BY VICTOR BUORO, KADUNA – The Secretary General of Anglican Communion Worldwide, Bishop Josiah Idowu Fearon has blamed anger, hatred and fear for the crises that continue to devastate Kaduna State and its people over the years.
According to Bishop Fearon, these negative energies have unfortunately remained the bane of misery and ugly developments among the Kaduna people.
He lamented that the poor state of things is also traceable to ignorance fuelled by segregation along religious and ethnic lines in the North West State.
Bishop Fearon, who is also the Chairman, Kaduna State Peace Commission, said time has come for citizens of different ethnicity and religion to shun all divisive tendencies and create more opportunities to meet and discuss of common interests for the overall good of Kaduna State.
The clergy described education as a powerful tool to change the world and a premise to progress, but added that it is also “a lengthy and ongoing process.”
He further said; “Education does not happen overnight. It requires commitment, investment, sustainability and cooperation.”
Speaking at the joint graduation ceremony for Certificate and Diploma graduands of Kaduna Centre for the Study of Christian – Muslim Relations, Bishop Fearon said: “There is too much hatred in Kaduna State; we so hate each other. That is why we are not making too much progress.”
For him; “Ignorance and all that comes with it, anger, fear, hatred, and conflict, happens because we separate ourselves from those that we disagree with and from the ‘other’.
“We might do this out of concern for ourselves – that if we are seen to be speaking with someone, who is the ‘other’, that it will damage our reputation with our own communities. But this also happens because of fear and sometimes hatred.”
The Anglican Priest however said; “These are things that we must also work against. And we must resist this temptation to separate ourselves from those who are different and with whom we disagree”, adding; “We must engage in activities together. It is not enough to simply have knowledge and understanding in your head.”
Bishop Fearon also pleaded with the people to always practice what their different faith teaches, especially in relations to peaceful coexistence, adding that; “Religious leaders can set a good example in engaging in activities with leaders from the ‘other’ religions.”
In his remarks at the event, Governor Nasir el-Rufai, said admitted that the State has witnessed many avoidable crises due to religious and ethnic differences, but said the government has put in place a policy guideline on the interpretation of religion.
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, the Governor however noted that teaching and propagating the messages through the right channel will reduce the existing challenges and tension in the State.
Also delivering a goodwill message at the forum, former Governor of Kaduna State and National Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi described peace as a vital ingredient for unity and key denominator for sustainable growth and development.
Senator Makarfi challenged the graduands to always practice what they have learnt to contribute towards peaceful co-existence among Nigerians while also demonstrating that they have value for all the things learnt in their course of study.
