FG: We Won’t Weaponise Religion, Ethnicity

•As NIREC tasks Tinubu on Renewed Hope agenda

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The federal government has said that religious and ethnic considerations will not have a place under the current administration.

The government’s assurance came just as the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) said that the masses are eagerly awaiting to reap the fruits of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.

However, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, said the Tinubu-led administration has already demonstrated its commitment to equity and fairness in various appointments it has so far made.

He said Nigerians should have trust in the ability of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to do all that it takes to address the challenges of hunger and poverty.

Akume who spoke at the opening of fourth quarter meeting of NIREC held in Abuja on Tuesday, said that unity is paramount to government and that it will not weaponize religion and ethnicity.

“I therefore call on Nigerian citizens to trust that the incumbent administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will do all that it takes to address the challenges of hunger and poverty.

“With our human and natural resources, Nigerians have no reason to live in penury. This government will not weaponize religion and ethnicity as you can see in the appointments so far by the President.

“We are laying a foundation that will put smiles on the faces of the citizens. This is why we call for a renewed hope. Let us live in unity to a point that though tongue and tribe may differ, in unity we must stand,” he said.

Akume said that government at all levels needs the cooperation of religious leaders to use religion to restore human dignity and not to use religion to divide the people of the nation.

According to him, religion is very sensitive and volatile hence religious leaders should encourage religious preachers to emphasize what can promote mutual understanding while the political leaders work for the common good and welfare of the people.

Speaking on the Renewed Hope agenda of the present administration, Akume said the first thing about restoration of hope of the citizens is for Christians and Muslims to have absolute trust in God.

In addition, Akume said that a change of attitude and hope in Nigeria will stop the Nigerian youths from running away from their dear native land to voluntarily offering themselves as free slaves through the Sahara, Mediterranean and Atlantic human trafficking routes.

He also said that media is a very useful means of proclaiming the message of hope.

“However, this message can bring despair without media honesty. I therefore call on journalists and social media bloggers to rekindle the hope in our people.

“It is hoped that as this government pursues the agenda of renewed hope, a time will come where graduates will be gainfully employed with our promise of effective leadership. To grow a healthy society, there is need for justice and good governance. This is our promise of hope to the nation,” Akume said.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of NIREC, Rev. Fr. Cornelius Omonokhua, said that the meeting themed: “Restoration of Hope in Nigeria,” was convened to have a preliminary assessment of the current administration’s Renewed Hope agenda with regards to the direction things are going.

He said: “During this dry season, Nigerians aspire to have a foretaste of the Renewed Hope promised by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by seeing tractors mending all the dilapidated state and federal roads in Nigeria.

“Once this happens, many could believe that very soon the refineries, iron and steel industries along with other areas of development will soon attract necessary attention.

“Nigerians want to witness uninterrupted power supply as a sign of hope. We pray for a country that is a conducive place for human habitation. We pray for a nation where the citizens will be meaningfully engaged so that the devil will not give jobs to the youths. An idle mind is the devil’s workshop”.

Omonokhua said that NIREC had to skip its first two quarterly meetings for 2023 to allow the new administration to settle down before assessing it.

 “Among the campaign slogans of the incumbent government is, “Renewed Hope.” We are here today at the 4th quarter meeting of NIREC to enquire through our presenters, Ustaz Abubakr Siddeeg Muhammed, member, expanded general purpose committee, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and Paul Andrew Gwarza, Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, whether this Renewed Hope includes going back to the life of the 1970s where graduates during their youth’s service were sure of employment.

“Their only challenge was which job to choose out of the many job opportunities available to them in the country. We have invited the European Union (BU), the embassy of the United Kingdom and ECOWAS Commission to share with us how this hope could bring about security, honesty, human value, common welfare and common wellbeing. Nigeria needs the collaboration of the neighboring countries to grow a better nation,” he said.

The NIREC meeting later went into closed-door session, but Omonokhua who spoke to THISDAY shortly after the opening session said a communiqué will be issued highlighting the Council’s position on the state of affairs in the country.