Religious crisis: NACOMYO advocates constitution of NIREC in states
The National Council of Muslim Youth Organizations (NACOMYO) has advocated the establishment of Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) in all the states of the federation and Federal Capital Territory (F CT), just as it called for the resuscitation of the inter-faith body at the national level to promote inter-faith harmony and minimise religious agitations in the country.
NACOMYO in a press release isgned by its National President, Alh Kamal Akintunde, said the existence of the body, which should be assisted by authorities would facilitate amicable resolution of religious and sensitive issues and help douse tension that may arise from religious orchestrated clamour.
It underlined the need for peaceful co-existence of all Nigerians, emphasising that the body be assisted to be functional and with minimal interference to curb religious excessiveness and extremism.
The group decried the seemingly rivalry between the adherents of Islam and Christianity, asking those who feel agitated over any issue to pursue the matter to a logical conclusion in the apex court and stop using the media to heat the polity.
The Muslim body noted that the constitution guaranteed freedom of worship and charged those at the helm of affairs to ensure good governance within the framework of the country’s statutory book.
“There is no doubt that the country is multi-religious, multi-ethnic and pluralistic by natural design which the constitution has taken cognizance by providing that no state shall adopt any religion as state religion.
“The onus therefore lies on the citizens to eschew religious bigotry, acrimony and unnecessary rivalry in their divine favour-seeking endeavours”.
It charged religious institutions to justify their relevance to nation-building through supplications, spiritual guidance, proactive collaboration and co-operation and above all, patriotism.
NACOMYO equally enjoined governments to ensure fair play attitude, equity and justice among all religions, noting that such virtues would promote peace and inter-faith harmony, fundamental to national development.
NACOMYO debunked the claim of Nigeria’s Islamisation as held in some quarters, noting that the country’s constitution, biding us together had taken an exception to that assertion and thus sued for peace and religious harmony among Nigerians.
