By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
The Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development, in collaboration with the Temple Foundation, recently organized a one-day interfaith dialogue on peace, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence for spiritual and religious stakeholders.
The event held on Monday in Maiduguri, the Borno State’s capital, aimed to provide a platform for participants to discuss and identify issues hindering peace and coexistence among different faith communities.
In her welcome remarks, Hajiya Hamsatu Allamin, Managing Director of the Allamin Foundation, emphasized the importance of brainstorming on actual issues and challenges affecting peace and coexistence in communities.
Hajiya Allamin urged religious leaders to preach messages of love, unity, and harmony, as enshrined in holy books.
Speakers at the dialogue, including Sheikh Dr. Ali Ibrahim Mustapha and Apostle Joshua Akedulu Michael, highlighted the importance of fairness, justice, trust, and love in promoting peace and coexistence.
Apostle Michael, who is also the State Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Borno State, emphasized that despite differences, people of all faiths are created to live together in peace and harmony.
He noted that certain elements often create misunderstandings and conflicts among people, but with prayers, understanding, information, knowledge, advocacy, and sensitization, peace and peaceful coexistence can prevail.
Other religious leaders, including Imams and clergymen from both Christianity and Islam, concurred that peace and peaceful coexistence are the bedrock of progress and development in any society or community. They called on brothers and sisters from both religions to be patient, just, trustworthy, fair, honest, and loving towards everyone, as brothers and sisters created by God and destined to live together in peace and unity despite their differences.
Reverend Father Emmanuel Apagu noted that any religion requires truth, honesty, and sincerity. He urged clerics of both religions who are involved in spreading falsehoods that ignite conflict and misunderstanding among their subjects to shun such behavior and attitude. He also called on people to desist from criticizing or condemning other faiths, as every religion has its own practice, commandments, principles, gospel, and way of life.
The stakeholders observed that conflicts and challenges in society often result from misunderstandings and a lack of tolerance. They urged people to continue praying, being faithful, and practicing religious injunctions and doctrines. Apostle Michael emphasized that in this world, there is no place where Christians and Muslims do not live together in love and peace despite their differences, as God created us all to live together and love one another in fairness, justice, and trust.
The interfaith dialogue concluded with a call for people to practice their respective religions accordingly and honestly, with love and passion, in order to eliminate negative acts while emphasizing justice, fairness, and trust. The participants emphasized the importance of understanding each other’s religion and practices, and working together towards peace and development in society.
