Ethno-religious crisis: El-Rufai inaugurates ‘House of Kaduna Family’

Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna state, on Thursday inaugurated the House of Kaduna Family with the aim of “stopping to the ethno-religious crisis in the state”.

The group consists of leaders of various religious groups in the state.

Speaking during the inauguration, el-Rufai said religion is supposed to be a uniting tool, not that of division.

The governor explained that the “House of Kaduna Family is convened as a platform for leaders of faith to dialogue, interact and assume collective responsibility for messages that assist people of faith to live up to the highest ideals of our two main religions as peaceful, law abiding citizens”.

“Religious fervour is a common trait among Nigerians. Yet, the legacy of communal and ethno-religious conflict in our state betrays the absence not only of respect for the rule of law but also any adherence to the common values of our two dominant religions – which are peace, compassion and fairness to others, ” el-Rufai said.

“We have no doubt that our leaders of faith can help both the Christian and Muslim faithful to more consciously practise these values.

“The decision to gather leaders of faith in a joint endeavour for peace and harmony in our state reflects our belief that religion does not have to divide. It is our view that the diversity of faith can be a vehicle for unity when adherents respect the right of every human being to life, liberty and livelihood, as creatures of God.

“No one can be wiser than Almighty God who created everyone and the universe we inhabit, who decreed diversity in biology, race, gender, religion, geography, and much else. Belief in God ought to compel people of faith to cherish a common humanity, and to stand up for everybody, not just the people with whom they share a common religion.”

The governor said the state has spent billions on insecurity, adding that if there had been peace, the funds would have been channeled into developing the state.

He said things do not have to maintain the status while calling on religious leaders to urge adherents reflect the teachings of their faiths.

“The frequency of ethno-religious violence in our State in the last 40 years has had negative consequences on peaceful co-existence, development and public finances,” he said.

“In the last five years, we have spent billions supporting, equipping and sustaining federal security agencies to improve the situation. These are resources that can be better applied for investment in reducing the human and physical infrastructure deficits the state suffers from.

“Things do not have to stay that way. We have to work together to ensure that widespread adherence to faith translates into a broad constituency for peace, upheld by people whose faith in God also helps them to be better citizens. Division and conflict amidst intense religiosity is not our destiny.”