Over 50 Islamic clerics and traditional leaders yesterday worshipped with their Christian counterparts at the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) gospel church in Kaduna to promote religious tolerance and peaceful co-existence.

The Muslim clerics and the monarchs were in the church located along Lemu Road in Kaduna metropolis throughout the service that lasted almost four hours.

They gave goodwill messages, which majorly centred on religious tolerance and the utmost need for peace and togetherness regardless of religious, tribal or ethnic differences.

According to the Senior Pastor of the church, Revd. Dauda Haruna, who spoke on the essence of the service, it is possible for everybody to live in peace regardless of religious differences.

“As a church, we are committed to building a community of peace and believe me, we can live in peace if we respect one another’s faith and tell each other the truth.

“What we are doing today is what we have been doing yearly for about five years where we donate foodstuff to our neighbouring Muslims during Ramadan and after inviting them to worship with us, an opportunity we equally discuss how we can further and together promote peace in the state and country at large,” he said.

On his part, Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Barnabas Bantex, who stood in for Governor Malam Nasir el-Rufai, commended the church for what he called laudable initiative.

Bantex, who lauded the move as part of ways of ensuring religious cohesion among religious organisations and faith, expressed enthusiasm that such gesture could help bring about lasting solutions to religious crises in the state and Nigeria at large.

“My boss, the governor, is mandate focused and will do everything humanly possible to ensure that peace at all levels is ensured in the state” he assured.

In the same vein, the Hakimi Barnawa, Alhaji Kabiru Zubairu, who also spoke on behalf of the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji (Dr.) Shehu Idris, commended the gesture and solicited for fervent prayers against all forms of social vices in the state and country at large.

He appealed for love for one another and support for government at all levels for them to deliver on their promises.

Also, the Executive Secretary of Sultan Bello Mosque, Shiekh Hamisu Ya’u, who said the last time he entered the church was in 1986, also expressed joy for the initiative of the church.

He identified politics, role of religious leaders, hate-speeches, propaganda and lack of forgiveness and love for one another as causes of religious crises.

•Culled from Guardian

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