– Muslims and Christians have preached peace and harmony in the wake of religious violence in the country
– A Muslim peace ambassador donated chairs to a church to promote religious tolerance and understanding
– Her gesture was reciprocated by the church who also gave the mosques praying mats
Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani who is a peace ambassador has donated chairs to a church while pastors will also decorate mosques as part of the UN World Interfaith Harmony Week.
The week which begins from February 1 to 7 is meant to foster inter-faith unity and the two religious groups chose to exchange goodwill to each other in Kaduna.
Vanguard reports that Tijjani explained the essence was to promote respect and religious tolerance in the state and the country at large.
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She said: “The formula includes all people of goodwill. It includes those of other faith, and those with no faith.”
“The week is part of efforts to strengthen inter- and intra-religious relationship toward preventing and countering violent extremism and promoting peace building, reconciliation and conflict transformation, which is part of events of the ceremony worldwide.”
The peace ambassador noted that ethno-religious and political crisis in Kaduna state has affected hundreds of lives and properties and damaged the peaceful co-existance enjoyed by the people.
She then “called for the creation of institutes of comparative studies in the country, saying the institutes would promote better understanding, religious tolerance, forgiveness, reduce blasphemy tendencies and continuously preach peace and harmony between Muslims and Christians.”
“In order to make statements or generalisations about religion, the concept of religion, rather than a specific religion or group of religions, we need to engage in comparative study of religions so as to reduce ethno-religious attacks and blasphemy.”
Apart from donating chairs to a church, she also included a package of gift items to the best Church/Mosque cleaners so as to encourage their work.
Pastor Yohanna Buru who is the general overseer of the Christ Intercessory Fellowship Church, Sabon Tasha in Kaduna received the chairs and expressed happiness at the gesture.
He encouraged Muslims and Christians to learn to live together in peace so as to make the country safe.
He said: “The place of worship belongs to God; we must do everything possible to protect Mosques and Churches against destruction.”
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“As the interfaith and harmony week commences, we are going to organise an endurance trek for Muslim and Christian clerics to create awareness on peaceful co-existance.
“We will also organise reading and writing competition among Muslims and Christians in schools and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to enhance understanding among youths.”
He promised the church would reciprocate the gesture and donate prayer mats and plastic kettles to some Mosques to foster peaceful co-existence.
360naze
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