The Secretary to the Government of the Federation ( SGF) Boss Mustapha has appealed to traditional rulers and faith based organizations to assist government to find solutions to action by groups threatening national unity.
But the SGF also warned that Federal Government is prepared to decisive apply the full weight of the law against those who masquerade under the disguise of religion or any other pretence to perpetrate crimes.
Boss Mustapha dropped the warning at the opening of the 2018 FIRST Quarter Meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) held at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers Abuja.
“Religion is an instrument for building national harmony and peaceful co-existence, and this government is committed to fairness to all, irrespective of their ethnic background or religious beliefs.”
He listed extremism and religious intolerance as one of the challenges facing the country. He called on religious and traditional leaders as “custodians of our tradition and moulders of public opinion, to help the government find solutions that will complement the on-going efforts of government. We urge you to speak up against actions and groups that threaten our peace and national unity”. He emphasised that the peaceful co-existence of Nigerians is important.
He lamented that “insurgency had threatened national security and territorial integrity. He restated the resolve of the Federal Government to ensure that dialogue and peaceful approach were deployed to support the Military effort. He commended security agencies for living up to their expectations and stressed that the business of security was the business of all Nigerian citizens as a collective responsibility.
He stated that Government had designed the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), aimed at diversification and deepening of economic growth, as a response to the economic recession which the country was gradually over coming. Safety net programmes, adopting policies to ease the process of doing business in Nigeria, deploying resources to boost infrastructure development that can create opportunities, employment and enhance the fight against corruption, were other economic recovery strategies. He called on the council to play its role to ensure the success of all the strategies adopted by government.
He urged the members of the council to help disseminate information on the importance of registration by all eligible citizens, as the nation prepared for the next elections. He emphasised that this was their civic duty, while voting was their constitutional right. He appealed for non-violent political activities all through the electioneering process.
The Co-Chairmen of the Council, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III and The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Dr. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle commended Mr. Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation for reviving the council after a period of dormancy.
Tony Ailemen, Abuja.
