By; ISAAC ODEH, Kaduna
Justice Development and Peace Caritas (JDPC) in collaboration with Global Peace Foundation Nigeria (GPFN) has urged religious and traditional leaders as well as other critical stakeholders to preach religious tolerance and peaceful co-existence among residents of Kaduna State.
The Coordinator of JDPC, Kaduna, Rev. Fr. Joshua Achir who made the call on Thursday in Kaduna to mark 2023 International Day of Non-violence urged Nigerians to shun culture of impunity.
According to him, “Nigerians should stop attack on one another and secure culture of peace irrespective of our differences.
“We should see ourselves as brothers and sisters created by one God, We should stop using derogatory statement against one another. Let us be knowledgeable about the concept of humanity, that we are first human before religion and ethnicity “.
Achir identified marginalization and injustice as major drivers of violence, adding that there is need for government to give every Nigerian sense of belonging.
“When there is fairness and justice everyone will be carried along, some people feel marginalized and abandoned in terms of development because they are not been carried along, they don’t see themselves as part of the process.
“Government should try to ensure that every part of the society is involved in terms of development, so that people will no longer feel marginalized, people don’t feel happy when they are marginalized,” he said.
He advised governments at all levels to be peace builders, have zero tolerance for decriminalization in terms of infrastructure and development.
The Northern Coordinator of Global Peace Foundation, Sheikh Halliru Abdullahi Maraya noted that there is no society that can develop where there is violence.
He urged Nigerians to embrace peace and love one another irrespective of tribe or religion.
Sheikh Maraya also advised governments at all levels to provide quality education, quality healthcare services and other social amenities in order to address youth restiveness in the country.
