…To hold NIREC quarterly infer-face conferences

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has issued warning to hate preachers (mischief makers) among religion institutions to desist forthwith from the act as it would not tolerate religious intolerance in the state. Ambode gave the during a special meeting with members of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), at the State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.

The governor also disclosed that from next year, the state government will begin inter-face religious conferences where all religious bodies in the state, irrespective of their denominations will participate and would be coordinated by NIREC. Ambode, represented by the State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr. Abdulhakeem Abdullateef, explained that the government would stop any religion leader who preaches hate messages that is capable of endangering people’s freedom.

According to him, “Henceforth, we’ll start to monitor mosques and churches and ensure that clerics do not engage in hate preaching.

“Our constitution in Nigeria has recognised the freedom and rights of every citizen to express himself or herself in a way he or she believes. The right to freedom of religion, conscience and the right to express it publicly, individually or in community with others, to express to observe, to practice and propagate it.

“Section 42 of the constitution goes further to say nobody on account of expressing himself should be subjected to any form of discrimination. So, if we are talking about peace, peaceful co-existence, then tolerance is key to all of us.

“Let it be known to residents that henceforth, Lagos government in collaboration with Nigeria Inter- Religious Council (NIREC), will not tolerate hate preachers. These are the people who do not preach their religion but continue to spread mischief about people of other religions. We will not tolerate religious intolerance.

“This is the time for advocacy, let everybody realize that you have the right and freedom to practice your religion but you will be stopped from practicing that religion if it creates mischief. And under Section 45 of the Nigeria Constitution, the government is empowered to put a stop to your freedom when it endangers other people’s freedom,” he said.

The government, while supporting Mosques in the call for prayers to their faithful, urged clergies to immediately deactivate the external loud speaker after the call had been made in-order not to constitute nuisance to the community. “We are going to ensure that this advocacy is taken to the grassroots to let people know that we are not stopping people from practicing their religion but the rights of others must be taken into consideration.

In recognition of tolerance, Ambode has directed that in collaboration with NIREC, from next year there would be quarterly inter-face conference where all religious bodies will meet to discuss way forward and further strengthen existing cordial relationship between the two religions.  It must not be a fire brigade approach that is only when there is crisis we meet.”

Abdulakeem added that the state government had earlier met with Christian and Muslim leaders where it was agreed to start enumeration, data gathering of members in the state “and we can not do this without the collaboration of NIREC. We are enforcing our law in a manner that it restores the dignity of the people.

“To every Mosque and Church there must be an identification number as part of measures to safe guarding the welfare of adherent of these religions.”