Corrupt politicians fuelling religious intolerance – Falana
Frontline lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) has accused corrupt politicians of being responsible for the spate of religious intolerance in the country.
Falana made the accusation at the weekend in his speech at the fifth UFUK Dialogue international conference on love and tolerance held in Lagos.
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The theme of the conference was: “Countering violent extremism for peaceful co-existence,” organized by the UFUK Dialogue, a non-governmental organisation founded to promote dialogue, culture of co-existence and mutual understanding.
According to the fiery lawyer, some corrupt political office holders were the ones pitching the citizens against each other as a cover up for their corrupt practices so as to get an alibi.
“There are evidences that corrupt political office holders are the ones fuelling religious intolerance in the country just to cover up for their sins against humanity.
“The political leaders are not sincere with stopping all these vices because that is a way to distract the people from their corrupt cases while the people are battling and engaging themselves.
“As a person, people often ask me why I am standing in for a Muslim and the answer they get is that I don’t know anyone. I am defending all the oppressed irrespective of religious affiliation. However, our own leaders are busy spreading falsehoods about religion,” he alleged.
Falana said that the two main religions in Nigeria have things in common hence there should not be division, but peaceful co-existence.
“There are many things the two religions have in common; one is that they believe that there is one God above all, they both fast and other similarities.
“There is no need not to live peacefully among ourselves if we believe in one supreme God. We should love ourselves because God is love; this is important for us to know.
“I have been in the position to advise some rich people to invest in education and establishment of industries because that is the way to go to get our youths engaged,” Falana said.
President of UFUK Dialogue Foundation and the convener of the conference, Kamil Kemanci in his presentation titled: “Inter-religious dialogue: If not; what else?” said that peace remains a necessity for national cohesion and development.
“UFUK Dialogue serves to stand by societal peace, love, tolerance, and compassion in support of human dignity and the greater good of humanity.
“Dialogue and peace have always been and still remains a need, a necessity and a must for us to have a healthy and more productive society, “he said.
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