Group, Dutch embassy rally religious leaders, others on freedom of religion
28 February 2024 |
2:36 am
Search for Common Group (SCG) and the Dutch embassy in Nigeria are set to host religious leaders and key stakeholders to a conference on freedom of religion and belief to end religious conflicts and promote the protection of freedom of religion and belief.
After death threat, Islamic cleric apologises to Remi Tinubu
Search for Common Ground, (SCG), and the Dutch government, are set to host religious leaders and key stakeholders to a conference on freedom of religion and belief to end religious conflicts and promote the protection of freedom of religion and belief.
Meanwhile, Islamic cleric, Idris Tenshi, has apologised over his call for the killing of Oluremi Tinubu, wife of President Bola Tinubu. Country Director, SCG, Fatima Abubakar, made this known at a pre-conference for its Promoting and Protecting Freedom of Religion and Belief (PP-FoRB) project, yesterday, in partnership with the Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution, in Abuja.
She said: “The PP-FoRB Nigeria project is dedicated to empowering key figures such as human rights defenders, journalists, civil society groups and significant influencers, towards preaching peace irrespective of religious differences.
“Our focus is to prevent conflicts rooted in religious differences and uphold the sacred right to freedom of religion or belief in Nigeria.”
Abubakar noted that the theme, ‘Building a Community of Practice on Promoting Freedom of Religion or Belief in Nigeria’, speaks to the organisation’s drive to reinforce support for individuals at risk of violations relating to their faith or beliefs.
“Search is a leader for peace building efforts worldwide, tirelessly working to make a significant impact amid the world’s most challenging conflict,” she added.
According to her, so far the group has offered capacity building training to religious leaders across the six geopolitical zones, lawyers and the media, who are expected to cascade the knowledge towards entrenching religious tolerance and harmony.
Explaining further, PP-FoRB Project Manager, Daniel Ogabiela, said the conference is an advocacy call that brings together all stakeholders to a common ground in building a community of practice.
He said: “We are building this community of practice, where people will come, a safe place where people can interact and then synergise all our actions towards elimination of all forms of validation around freedom of religion and belief.
“Now, what do I really mean? We are bringing in the donors, who have been found in these activities. We are bringing in civil society organisations (CSOs) at the community level. We are bringing religious leaders and media actors from across the geopolitical zones to come and now synergise all our efforts.”
The body, he noted, has trained about 30 religious leaders, 200 lawyers and 30 journalists, among others, towards promoting its cause. Director General and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution, Dr Joseph Ochogwu, described peace building as a task that cannot be achieved without partnership and collaboration; hence, the importance of the conference. He said: “If we must promote religious freedom and peace in Nigeria, there must be partnership.
“Our partnership will ensure that the community of practice is promoted among stakeholders.”
RECALL that Tenshi, in a sermon, described the President’s wife as an “infidel” who should be killed.
The cleric, in Hausa language, had said: “Tinubu’s wife is an unbeliever, and even among the unbelievers, she is a leader. She is among those that Allah has instructed us to kill because she is among the leaders of the unbelievers.”
But he came under fire over the comments. However, in a new video, Tenshi apologised over his comments, claiming that everything he said was “a mistake”; hence, he has withdrawn all that he said.
“I would like to pass this message to Nigerians regarding a video I did which is circulating on social media,” he said. “All the things I said were a mistake and I don’t stand on the words I said. Other clerics have given me a proper explanation of the verse that I quoted.
“As a human being, I am prone to making mistakes. I am apologising to Remi Tinubu over the comments I made and taking back the words I said.
“I am also apologising to Nigerians because she (Remi) is like a mother to us. The season of politics is over. I made those comments during the time the campaign was taking place.
“Now that God has given Bola Tinubu power, we have no other option than to support him and wish him and his family well. Whoever felt offended by the things I said, I am sorry.”
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