The governor of Kaduna state, Nasir El-rufai has inaugurated the House of Kaduna Family on Thursday, September 3, 2020, to tackle the ethno-religious crisis in the state.
While addressing during the inaugural ceremony, the governor said religion is supposed to be a uniting tool, not of separation. The group involves different religious groups in the state.
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El-rufai noted that the “House of Kaduna Family is convened as a platform for leaders of faith to dialogue, interact and assume collective responsibility for messages that assist people of faith to live up to the highest ideals of our two main religious as peaceful, law-abiding citizens.”
“Religious fervor is a common trait among Nigerians. Yet, the legacy of communal and ethno-religious conflict in our state betrays the absence not only of respect for the rule of law but also any adherence to the common values of our two dominant religions, which are peace, compassion, and fairness to others.
“We have no doubt that our leaders of faith can help both the Christian and Muslim faithful to more consciously practice these values. The decision to gather leaders of faith in a joint endeavor for peace and harmony in our state reflects our belief that religion does not have to divide. It is our view that the diversity of faith can be a vehicle for unity when adherents respect the right of every human being to life, liberty, and livelihood, as creatures of God,” stated the governor.
He also noted that the state has consumed billions on insecurity, adding that if there had been peace, the funds would have been channeled into emerging the state. Governor El-rufai pointed out that things do not have to uphold the status while calling on spiritual leaders to urge members to reflect the teachings of their beliefs.
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“The frequency of ethno-religious violence in our State in the last 40 years has had negative consequences on peaceful co-existence, development, and public finances. In the last five years, we have spent billions supporting, equipping, and sustaining federal security agencies to improve the situation. These are resources that can be better applied for investment in reducing the human and physical infrastructure deficits the state suffers from.
“Things do not have to stay that way. We have to work together to ensure that widespread adherence to faith translates into a broad constituency for peace, upheld by people whose faith in God also helps them to be better citizens. Division and conflict amidst intense religiosity is not our destiny,” said the governor.
