- Says Nigeria Better Together as One Indivisible Entity
- Hails Da’awa Coordination Council of Nigeria for Holding Summit on Peace
Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State says in spite of the ethno- religious manipulation by some self-serving elites in the country, his administration remains committed towards pursuing the path of peace and tranquility in the interest of social, economic and infrastructural development of the state.
He stated this while addressing participants at the 3rd National Summit of Peaceful Co-existence and nation building, organised by Da’awa Coordination Council of Nigeria, DCCN at the Gombe International Hotel.
The governor noted with nostalgia the peace and harmony that had existed between Christianity and Islam, noting that those days appeared to have gone, especially with the current continuous manipulation of religions by some elites to cause chaos which is now threatening the fabric of the nation.
He said Nigerians, irrespective of their ethno-religious backgrounds, must learn to understand, tolerate and leave with one another for the socio-economic and human development, noting that Gombe State, with its diversity, has remained relatively peaceful, thanks to the generational orientation on the need for peaceful coexistence.
Yahaya described the theme for the Summit “Peaceful co-existence, Social Cohesion and National Development” as apt and timely, saying the concepts of Peace and National Development are intertwine without which development of whatever kind will remain elusive.
He observed with concern, the manipulation of ethnicity and religions by some Nigeria elite to achieve their political and economic interests at the expense of human lives, calling on individuals in the habit of such narrative to desist from it as posterity may not leave to judge them kindly.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya said growing up in a neighbourhood that was inhabited by Nigerians from other parts of the country in Gombe metropolis, he understood the benefits of peaceful co-existence as against discrimination which ultimately does no one any good.
It is for this reason that the Governor assured the Sultan of Sokoto that his administration, along with the traditional institution in the State will continue to do everything necessary to promote peace and tranquility in the State and by extension the entire country.
He expressed the hope that submissions at the end of the summit will assist the State in boosting her capacity towards understanding the dynamics of peaceful co-existence and how to better manage and sustain it.
“His Eminence has spoken and I agree that things are not normal and it is our own making; God has provided all the basics that we need in order to have peaceful and harmonious relationships but may be for the greed of some elites who are only good at destroying and not producing”.
He said the fight to make Nigeria great again is a collective one which needs the buy in of all men and women of goodwill to demystify the erroneous believe that religion is a tool for division rather than for peace and National cohesion.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya explained that the origin of crisis confronting the country can be traced to the manipulations of the nation’s elites who are always bent on causing confusion in order to satisfy their insatiable greed and desires.
He therefore warned that if nothing is done to quell the insecurity bedevilling the nation, especially the North West and the North East, the seemingly confided act of terrorism, banditry and kidnapping may engulf the country on a full scale.
Earlier speaking, the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar lll thanked Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for providing the enabling environment for the successful hosting of the Summit which seeks to among other burning National issues, discuss peaceful coexistence, social cohesion and nation building.
Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar lll challenged the nation’s leaders to be fair and just in their God given responsibility, as the Almighty will one day demand of their stewardship in the hereafter, stressing that the challenges confronting the country demand a multi sectoral approach to address them.
The Muslim spiritual leader appealed to Nigerians to unite and work for the common good of the country, particularly now that Nigeria is facing its greatest challenges in history.
The chairman of the occasion, Mohammed Kyari Dikwa said peaceful co-existence and nation building are a collective responsibility of all and sundry. He commended the Da’awa Coordination Council Of Nigeria for initiating the annual submit aimed at not only promoting peace but deliberating on critical national issues and finding ways to solving them.
The National President of Da’awa Coordination Council of Nigeria, Mohammed Lawal Maidoki regretted the use of ethnicity and religion by some unpatriotic individuals to achieve their selfish goals.
It is for this reason that the President of the Da’awa Coordination Council of Nigeria said the summit became necessary in order to dismiss suspicion between the two major faiths in the country.
The 3rd National Summit on Peaceful Co-existence and Nation Building of the Da’awa Coordination Council of Nigeria has in attendance the representatives of John Cardinal Onayaikan and other Christian and Muslim leaders.
