The Youth Wing Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN) and National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations (NACOMYO) have warned youths to eschew violence in the forthcoming general elections.
The groups said the elections was a litmus test for Nigeria’s unity and could not be traded for anything. They stated this at the inter-religious peace accord summit organised by the Youth Southwest Zonal in Lagos last Saturday.
The Chairman CAN Lagos State Bishop Stephen Adegbite said the accord was aimed at fostering religious tolerance rejecting political violence and promoting peaceful coexistence ahead of the elections.
Adegbite also faulted politicians making derogatory utterances against their political opponents saying the nation could not afford war at this period.
‘It is because we don’t have trust in one another and when there is no trust there Is room for acrimony and suspicious and bickering.
‘What we must do is what youths have done today both Christian and Muslims have done well to bring peace and restore confidence in our great nation.
‘It is also to say that we must work together in oneness and togetherness that is the only way we can achieve greatness to the glory of God.’
Adegbite urged the youths to first show the way so Nigerians would follow adding that the summit was to show the world that the two religions want peace in the elections during and after the election.
The CAN chairman said the two religious bodies did not want anyone to be killed for any elective position.
‘When you go into Romans 12:18 it tells us to live in peace with ourselves even in Qur’an there are verses that speak about peace’ he said .
Also speaking Alhaji Shehu Ibrahim the National Secretary NACOMYO explained that the peace accord was important to the Muslims youth in the country because they were approaching the general elections.
Ibrahim said with this peace accord they would make sure they preach peace across the country starting from the grassroots level.
The national secretary said this was where they would mobilise their youths to ensure there were no violence during the election.
He said they were still contacting the Imams so they could use Jumat service islamic schools and other islamic gathering to preach peace to islamic youths.
The APC Youth Leader Lagos State Mr Damilare Orimoloye said this peace accord summit was to let Nigerians youths understand that peace comes after there was misunderstanding.
‘Peace speaks against violence how to tolerate each other showing love amidst misunderstanding.
‘Certainly there will be misunderstanding as we move into the election period so we need to tolerate each other and to speak love to one another.’
In his words Mr Nnamdi Obasi the South West Chairman YOWICAN noted that the summit was significant because the inter-religious youths need to bridge the gaps between the Christians and the Muslim youths not to be used to fight one another.
He said: ‘For example in the North where the Muslims are killing the Christians and the Christians are also killing the Muslims.
‘We need to make youths understand that we are one for the same purpose while we are together on earth.’
Obasi advised the youth to let them remain united and love each other as brothers and sisters and not to allow politicians to cause conflict among them as the 2027 draw nearer.