Leaders have been described as strong catalyst towards the Prevention of violent extremisim in the country, asked to use their strong influences on their followers in strengthening peace building and preventing violence in the country.
Mr. Anicetus Atakpu, Resillience Programme Coordinator with ActionAid, Team Lead of the SARVE 11 Project for ActionAid, made the disclosure at a one day Religious Dialogue Meeting organised by ActionAid in Conjunction with Participation Initiative for Behavioural Change in Development, (PIBCID) with funding from Global Community Engagement and Resilience Funds.
The Dialogue Meeting which held at Reverton Hotel Lokoja, is aimed at System and Structure Strengthening Approach Against Radicalization to Violent Extremism ( SARVE 11)
Mr. Anicetus described peace as not negotiable ingredient in any society, called on Religious Leaders to aside using their platforms to create peace also tasked them to also use Alternative Dispute Resolution in resolving crisis as no Community in the country that does not have a presence of Religious Leaders.
While noting that research has shown that 98% of Nigerians are Religious people, said religious leaders provide platforms for peace building, urged the Religious Leaders to beyond preaching spirituality, seek how to preach tolerance and peace building messages.
Mr. Anicetus charged Religious Leaders to make preaching peaceful coexistence as a core Priority, urged them to use their platforms to change behaviours, provide platforms for those marginalized or aggrieved and want to seek self help a platform to be heard.
In a welcome remarks, Halima Oiza Sadiq, Executive Director of Participation Initiative for Behavioural Change in Development, (PIBCID), explained that the Religious Dialogue Meeting under the SARVE 11 Project aims to decrease vulnerability and risk of young men and women using Religious Leaders while promoting community Systems and structures that address violent extremism and strengthen peace building mechanism.
According to the Executive Director, the Dialogue aims at intensifying actions towards improving enabling environment for preventing violent extremism as well as supporting communities against injustices and inequalities through building tolerance to mitigate against violent extremism.
In a presentation by of the JNI Coordinator Lokoja Kogi LGA, Alhaji Mohammed Wandana on the topic: Religious Tolerance: Christian and Islam Experience Sharing, said the Islamic holy Books recognizes Christians as their closest brothers to a Muslim, urged Muslim Faithfuls to practice and show love to their Christian Brothers.
The JNI Coordinator appealed to Muslim Faithfuls to desist from fighting their Christian Brothers, urged them to always live by examples, show love, mercy and help to their Christian Brothers.
Similarly, in his presentation on Culture of Peace through Community Engagement and Dialogue as Religious Leaders, P.O.Frank, the CAN representative lamented the high rate of killing in the country, called for the implementation of Faith in peace building.
Pastor Frank charged Christian Religious Leaders to preach peace insisting that the two major Religion in Nigeria are similar, described the present century as an interfaith dialogue century.
He concluded by saying that the two major Religion in Nigeria share major ideologies said Christians should be humanitarian, peaceful and be of help to neighbors as was contained in the story of the good Samaritan.