The Country Director, Global Peace Foundation Nigeria (GPFN), Rev John Joseph Hayab has appealed to religious leaders in the country to add their voices to the campaign for a violence-free election in Nigeria by building sustainable peace and harmony before, during and after the forthcoming elections.
He also called on faith and religious leaders in the country to be practical advocates in that regard, particularly in a society that has been hitherto polarized and divided along religious, ethnic and regional divides.
In a message to commemorate the World Inter-Faith Harmony Week 2023, Hayab said, “Nigeria wholeheartedly felicitates with the United Nations, the peace and harmony-loving people of Nigeria and the entire human race on this all-important occasion.”
According to him, this week of global observance calls for all Muslims, Christians and humans of other faiths or no faith to engage in a dialogue based on two fundamental religious commandments of love of God and of the neighbour, stressing that they are critical to having a peaceful and harmonious society that has continued to elude humanity.
He added that building bridges across boundaries is the focus in 2023 that provides a platform for all inter-faith groups, religious leaders and all well-meaning lovers of harmony to show the world that the common values outweigh the differences Nigerians hold by providing a strong dosage of peace and harmony in the various societies.
He called on religious leaders not only to preach but continue to dialogue with one another by showing exhibiting good relationships with their followers for the overall peace, unity and development of the country.
He called for an understanding of the fact that no individual or organization has the capacity or resources to alone promote peace and harmony in society and appealed to all Civil Society Organizations (CSO) to continue to promote activities and programmes aimed at building peaceful and harmonious coexistence.