El-Rufai should be supported to restore peace in Kaduna – Bishop

The Secretary General, Anglican Communion Worldwide and founder of Kaduna Centre for the Study of Christian-Muslim Relations, Most Rev. Josiah Idowu-Fearon, has called for support on efforts to end violent conflict in Kaduna State.

Speaking at the graduation of Diploma and Certificate students of the centre in Kaduna, Archbishop Idowu-Fearon called on Christians and Muslims to join hands with the Governor Nasir El-Rufai to solve the security challenges in the state.

He said it was the people that are at loss because the government was spending huge money to solve the security issues that ought to have invested.

Governor El-Rufai called on Muslims and Christians to come together and work for the peace of the state.

He said the government was investigating and prosecuting purveyors of hatred and conflict and will not relent until peace and justice replace division and hatred in the state.

The governor said that the state has borne too much suffering pointing out that in the last 37 years, thousands of people have died in outbreaks of violence.

“Let us say enough is enough, mourn all our people who have died, comfort those who have suffered and in their memory, say never again to violence, never again to bigotry,” he said.

El-Rufai said the message to those he described as “conflict entrepreneurs” is that nobody would be allowed to entrench the narrative of hate and the attitude of belligerence and vengeance, when what was needed is peace, harmony and security.

In a goodwill message, the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, His Eminence Cardinal John Onaiyekan, urged Christians and Muslims to continue to preach and practice peace noting that “We must build bridges not war.”