Lagos - Dr Mashhud Adenrele, the Amir, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria, has urged Nigerians to make religion a positive agent for the attainment of national development.
Adenrele gave the advice on Saturday at the Religious Founders Day entitled: "Social Security, National Peace and Sustainable Development’’, at the main Auditorium of University of Lagos.
He said Christians and Muslims should enlighten the masses on the need for peaceful co-existence, noting that this would strengthen the acceptance of their collective prayers for the nation.
"God accepts the prayers of brothers who are at peace with one another. We should realise the imperative of mutual cooperation to promote social justice and equity.
"We should fight against injustice, wickedness, violence, insecurity, persecution, whether hidden or open corruption, oppression and abuse of authority,” he said.
In his keynote address, Alhaji Bola Agboola, the Director of Lagos Operations, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), said that religion is undisputable vehicle of national peace, security and sustainable development.
According to him, in view of our peculiarities as a nation, harmonious co-existence is essential to the realisation of the dreams of the nation's founding fathers.
"It is high time Nigerians truthfully practise the principles of love, peace, sacrifice, honesty, selfishness as preached by the two religions.
"Nigeria is a gift from God; every Nigerian has an obligation to treasure the gift.
"This is perhaps what the founders of inter-faith group thought when they initiated inter-faith dialogue,” he added.
Rev. Yinka Adeoye of the New Life Baptist Church Ijebu-Ife, Ogun, said that every Nigerian had the birthright to live a life of dignity and access to the basic necessities of life.
"Genuine peace is recognition of the fact that your neighbour is an image of God,’’ he said.
- NAN