Kano holds 2nd inter-religious conference

On Saturday, January 13, 2018, hundreds of Muslims and Christian faithful have converged at Coronation Hall, Government House Kano for the 2nd Kano Interfaith and Community Relations conference, Kano Chronicle can report. The inter-religious conference was organised by Kano state government in a bid to ensure peace and sustainable development in the state. During the […]

On Saturday, January 13, 2018, hundreds of Muslims and Christian faithful have converged at Coronation Hall, Government House Kano for the 2nd Kano Interfaith and Community Relations conference, Kano Chronicle can report.

The inter-religious conference was organised by Kano state government in a bid to ensure peace and sustainable development in the state.

During the conference, Muslims and Christian leaders have brain stormed, while academicians delivered papers on various topics that centred on peaceful co-existence.

Addressing the conference, the state Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje said the conference was organised to strengthening relationship between followers of the two major religions, saying “We organised the conference to ensure good relationship between Muslims and Christians: a relationship for peace and tranquillity.

Ganduje therefore urged religious and community leaders to always promote peace and harmony among their followers.

The governor said Kano state government was ready to support any programme aimed at promoting peace and harmony among Nigerians irrespective of their religion and ethnic backgrounds.

He said Kano would sustain the interfaith and community relations conference in the state, as according to him followers of the two major religions had learnt a lot of lessons from the first conference held in 2016.

“We are all creations of God and we were created for a purpose. If God wants all of us to be Muslims, we will be and so also if He wants us to be Christians, we will be Christians. Is God that says we must stay together, therefore, we should leave in peace,” he said.

In his remarks, the Chairman, Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN) Kano state chapter, Reverend Adeyemo A. Samuel, commended the state government for organising the conference.      

Samuel also thanked governor Ganduje for his determination towards promoting peace in the state, noting that since the governor assumed office on May 29, 2015, Kano had not witness any religious or ethnic crisis.

On his part, Sheikh Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa, urged leaders of the two major religions to educate their followers.

He also urged both Muslim and Christian faithfuls to leave in peace with one another, saying without peace nothing could be achieved.

Chairman of the occasion, Professor Ibrahim H. Umar, said it was not late for the leaders of the two religions to start educating their followers on the importance of living in peace with one another.

“Untill religious leaders educate their followers, nothing serious could be achieved in the ongoing effort to ensure peaceful co-existence among followers of the two religions. Ignorance is the major cause of religious and ethnic crisis in the country.

“So, if religious leaders can educate people, ethnic and religious crisis will reduce and we can have peace in the country,” he assured.

In his paper titled ‘Peaceful co-existence between Muslims and Christians’ Professor Tijjani Naniya of the History Department, Bayero University Kano, said, “Muslims and Christians did not know each other in harm until 19 century. During the time of Jesus the greetings between Muslims and Christians was love one another and during the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) it was embrace one another.”

Dr Sa’idu Ahmad Dukawa of the Political Science Department, Bayero University Kano, who was represented by Malam Umar Jibrilu Gwandu of the Department of Mass Communication in the university, urged followers of the two religions to promote peace and unity among them.

He said, “Both religions preached for peace and unity and taught their followers how to live in peace with one another irrespective of their religious affiliation.”