Agenzia Fides

Nairobi (Agenzia Fides) - No African country is immune against the kind of terrorism that has invaded Nigeria and this is why religions in Africa must reject all forms of fanaticism that threatens to turn into violence. This is the message launched by His Exc. Mgr. John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, Archbishop of Abuja (Nigeria), in his speech at the meeting on security in Africa held in Nairobi (Kenya) by the African Council of Religious Leaders (ACRL).
In his paper titled "Conflict and Peace in Nigeria: Between Despair and Hope, The Role of Religion," Archbishop Onaiyekan, who is co-chairman of ACLR, stressed that "we need to pay close attention to the radical religious ideologies imported from outside, especially those who have sown devastation in other Countries."
To cope with these dangers Archbishop Onaiyekan called for the establishment of additional Interreligious Councils in Countries and regions of the continent so that "men and women of whatever faith can see one another as citizens of the same nation, with common challenges and objectives as well as the same broad spiritual values and moral directives. "
The Archbishop of Abuja also recommended vigorous and sincere pursuit of rule of law valid on behalf of everybody.: "The application of the law should be valid for all citizens without any discrimination, whether on ethnic or religious basis. We must reject any religious alibis for maintaining any situations of injustice, discrimination and corruption." Archbishop Onaiyekan, who gave a historical analysis of ethno-religious crises in Nigeria, concluded that: "Africa has its own fair share of problems and difficulties. Apart from natural disasters, hunger and disease, we are still struggling with the problems arising from the lack of good governance and better management of our meagre resources. We cannot afford to add terrorism to our long list of problems." (LM) (Agenzia Fides 30/5/2012)