Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Sultan of Sokoto and Co-chairman, Nigerians Interfaith Council, Sa’ad Abubakar III, and President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Most Rev. Daniel Okoh, have preached religious tolerance among Nigerians to have a united country.

Others include former governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.

They all spoke in Ibadan during the World Interfaith Harmony Week conference and award ceremony themed, “The Love of the Good and The Love of the Neighbours,” with a sub-theme of “Peace for Our Time,” an event aimed at fostering peace and understanding among diverse faith communities, saying that Nigeria needs to be in peace and harmony.

Obasanjo said all religions preach true love and tolerance, adding that there can’t be peace without true love.

He said it is the collective responsibility of all Nigerians for the nation to be in peace.

In his remarks, the Sultan said if Nigerians could come together as one despite their differences, we would have a better society, as most of the problems the nation is having have to do with a lack of understanding, particularly when it comes to religion and ethnicity.

He described the gathering as a clarion call on all Nigerians to have tolerance, love each other and stand with one another.

The monarch also urged all Nigerians to forget any contradiction in religion and embrace peace and love which all religions preach, adding that Nigerians must continue to hope for a brighter future and for a country where peace reigns supreme.

In his keynote address, Dogara said Nigerians should deploy skills and humanity to create a society where every individual can live with dignity, pride, respect, and abounding peace.

Okoh, on his part, said the event was timely and a critical reminder for all Nigerians to embrace love, compassion and mutual respect.

He, therefore, urged Nigerians to work collectively towards building a future where peace and harmony reign and all can live together in peace and unity.

He, however, emphasised religious literacy, which will help Nigerians to know what binds them together, than what divides them, adding that Nigerians must speak for themselves regardless of their religion or ethnic background.