The Primate of Inri Evangelical Church, Rev Babatunde Elijah, on Saturday urged religious leaders to desist from making inciting statements to avoid civil unrest in the country.
Elijah in Lagos said that religions were tools used by politicians to win most religious leaders to their side to get what they wanted.
He said that many religious leaders were fond of talking about unrest in the presence of their congregation.
“Nigeria is in a trial time at the moment and I don’t expect any Pastor or Imam to talk about war in front of their followers.
“Peace should be the slogan of every religious leader for now for the sake of the children and aged people in the country,” he said.
He called on religious leaders to be cautious about what they say to the masses as they were well-respected figures in the society.
“Religious leaders should not allow themselves to be used by politicians to achieve their aims,’’ he said.
The cleric, who condemned the recent killings in some parts of the country, urged the Federal Government to remember its primary duty of protecting lives and properties of the citizens.
“Human life is sacred and nobody has the right to take the life of a fellow human being. You cannot continually kill people and it should be taken for granted.
“We remind all stakeholders that both the Quran and the Bible preach peace.
“We remind the Federal Government that the primary duty of any government is to protect the citizens’ lives and properties.
“Those killing others should be fished out and dealt with so that it can serve as deterrent to others,’ he Elijah.
