Group Calls For Unity Among Religious Faithful

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News Monday, April 6th, 2015

By Niyi Adeyi – Nigerian Christians and Muslims have been called upon to unite in order to consolidate the new wind of change currently blowing across the country.

Director of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Professor Ishaq Akintola made the call Sunday in the group’s Easter message.

MURIC stated in tandem with the divine and highly revolutionary message of the Qur’an, Nigerians voted for change in the March 2015 Presidential election, stressing that they have hearkened to the “divine message and they have taken their destiny in their hands”.

Professor Akintola who noted that the 2015 Easter celebration was significant as it coincided with the paradigm shift in Nigeria’s political arena, added that religious leaders and “animists” must allow the change to reflect in their attitudes, while every faithful must put an end to mutual suspicion, unhealthy rivalry and violence.

He warned that people should not allow politicians to use religion to divide them as well as “allow Nigeria to live again”.

In addition, MURIC urged all churches to pray for Nigeria focus, especially on the need for God to direct the minds of country’s politicians to think of the masses first before their personal interests; put an end to insurgency within a very short time; for calm in the Niger Delta; peace and prosperity for the country and for God to open the eyes of Nigerians to stop “seeing corruption as ordinary stealing” but as a huge monster with jaws wide open to swallow up the social order.

In the meantime, the group has rejected the hate messages of Al-Qaidah, Boko Haram and other misguided elements who engage in killings and destructions, as well as denounced those who ask Muslims to kill Americans, Britons and other people in the West.

MURIC reiterated that Islam did not destroy, but builds and gives life. “It does not teach killing. Islam is a religion of peace, not of terrorism” it emphasized.