Archbishop of Kaduna diocese, Most Reverend Matthew Ndagoso says peaceful co-existence must be sustained at the grassroot level for any meaningful development to be achieved.
He stated this at an inter-faith peace dialogue organised by community sant’ egidio in partnership with catholic archdiocese of Kaduna and that of Kafanchan held in Kachia.
Represented by Reverend Father Daniel Kyom, the Archbishop noted that in his eighteen year experience of preaching the gospel, he had observed that the grassroot level remain the foundation for true peace.
Also speaking, Deputy Chief Imam of Kafanchan Central Mosque, Dr Muhammad Kasim called on religious leaders to educate and caution their followers against negative preaching and hate speeches.
He identified dialogue, peaceful co-existence, tolerance and mutual understanding as essential ingredients for lasting peace that should be embraced by Muslims and Christians for the progress of the state and nation at large.
In a remark, co-ordinator community sant’egidio, Mr Henry Ezike who was dismayed over how most people in Southern Kaduna regard violence as a means of resolving disputes, emphasized the need for people to join hands together and build a Southern Kaduna without killings and violence, stressing that violence never solve problems.
Radio Nigeria reports that about three hundred participants comprising youth and women leaders as well as traditional leaders, clerics drawn from Kajuru, Kachia and Jema’a Local Government Areas attended the inter-faith dialogue with the theme: Peace is the future.
Cov/Usman Sani