ICC Note:

Christian leaders in Nigeria, including the archbishop of Abuja, are calling for religious tolerance in the country. The west African nation has been hit with religiously motivated violence including attacks by Boko Haram and Fulani militants. Entire Christian communities have been devastated by this violence making Nigeria one of the deadliest countries for Christians in the world.

10/04/2016 Nigeria (AllAfrica) – The Archbishop of the Abuja Arch Diocese, John Cardinal Onaiyekan has said that the relationship between Christians and Muslims depends on what goes on in the various faiths.

Cardinal Onayeikan spoke in Abuja at the opening of a three-day conference, organised by the Vienna, Austria-based, International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID) aimed at creating effective platforms towards promoting inter-religious understanding among Muslim and Christian communities in Nigeria.

According to him: “We have had challenges and we should be able to face those challenges. Our relationship between Christians and Muslims depends on what goes on in the various faiths.

“God did not make a mistake when he brought all if us together in this country and the basic message is that nobody should think you have a monopoly of God. That this God belongs to all of us therefore while I hold unto my faith very strongly, there should be … we are all working sincerely trying to do the right thing.

“We must be sincere with ourselves, respect one another, live in peace and harmony. Of course, there will be other people who do not agree to that but that does not stop the rest of us from living together in peace and government should handle those who are trouble makers. This is where the government comes in. it is not our responsibility as religious leaders to deal with criminals.”

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