By; AMOS TAUNA, Kaduna
The Global Peace Foundation Nigeria (GPFN), has appealed to all Nigerians to go beyond tolerating one another but continue to accept and live with one another as members of one family under God for harmonious coexistence in the country.
The GPFN in a message on the United Nations (UN) celebration of the world tolerance day, a day committed to strengthening tolerance by fostering mutual understanding among cultures and peoples, the foundation acknowledges that all people, regardless of race, nationality, religion or culture, are One Family under God.
A statement issued by its Country Director, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, said, “As the UN celebrates world tolerance day, a day committed to the Global Peace Foundation Nigeria the Global Peace Foundation Nigeria wishes to appeal to all Nigerians to go beyond just tolerating one another but should continue to accept and live with others as members of One Family under God.”
He added, “The Global Peace Foundation acknowledges that all people, regardless of race, nationality, religion or culture, are One Family under God. GPFN affirms the importance of universally recognized principles and shared values as essential to building social cohesion within nations and the global community.”
He believed that all people have intrinsic value, dignity, and fundamental rights, as endowed by the Creator, stressing that every person has, as his or her highest attribute, a spiritual and moral essence.
Rev. Hayab stated that human nature finds its fullest expression and meaning in relationships with others, saying that people develop their innate potential through their choices and actions.
According to him, understanding everybody’s shared identity and common aspirations as members of the human family establishes the basis for lasting peace, adding that it is the foundation for respect, empathy and shared responsibility beyond the boundaries of ethnicity, religion, and nationality.
He stressed that the world we are living is a global village and people of different ethnicity, religion and race need each other for socio economic growth, pointing out, “Our connection with one another makes our relationship more than just tolerating one another.”
“We need tolerance in our schools, offices, market places, when we are travelling by road, rail and on air. Our closeness to people with different identity from us and our ability to move along should go beyond just tolerance,” he stressed.
He said that GPFN, therefore, uses the occasion of world tolerance day to appeal to all human beings, especially Nigerians to show more love, respect and give others their space to operate, stressing that the community would be peaceful when people see others recognizing and appreciating their unique contributions as such recognition goes beyond tolerance.
The statement explained that Global Peace Foundation Nigeria joins the United Nations to commemorate the special day of promoting tolerance amongst humanity as members of One Family under God and appeal to everyone out there to go beyond just tolerance, saying that people should be celebrating the uniqueness of their neighbors, co-workers, people with disability and those from other faiths and tribes around them.
“Let us all make our world, country and community a place where everyone can feel welcome and accepted,” he emphasized.
