Vice Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2019 elections and a former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, has called on political and religious leaders to ensure that the various religious groups in the country live peacefully together, while upholding the ideals of freedom of worship as contained in Nigeria’s constitution.
Mr Peter Obi gave the advice in a message to mark the 2020 ‘International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief’.
He charged leaders at all levels including political and religious leaders to sincerely strive for peaceful co-existence among all the religious groups in Nigeria.
Obi lamented the grievous pain religious intolerance has inflicted on Nigeria’s unity. Obi stressing the need to uphold the right to freedom of religion, worship or expression as well as the right to peaceful assembly, which he noted, were critical in the fight against all forms of intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief.
He maintained that the national unity is not only threatened, but seriously weighed down by religious intolerance, which is very visible in the country, but noted that Nigeria’s constitution obviously allows the freedom of religion and worship and also, the right to peaceful assembly.
The former governor decried the different religious-based violent acts that had plagued different parts of the country, with their attendant security threats, lamenting that many lives have been lost and property destroyed due to religious violence.
He warned that if allowed to continue, it would have serious negative economic implications on the nation.
