Maku Urges Peaceful Co-Existence, Mutual Understanding

The Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, last Thursday called for tolerance and show of greater understanding by Christian and Muslim leaders in an effort to build a strong, united and peaceful country.

Briefing newsmen in Abuja, the minister stressed the need to rescue the country from those who were determined to threaten its unity and development.

“We are not at war. There is no war between Christians and Muslims . Muslims are not driving Christians away from the north neither are the Christians driving the Muslims away from the south. It is all in the imagination of those who do not wish the country well.”

Maku said that peaceful co-existence and mutual understanding should be embraced by the adherents of Christian and Muslim religions and called on leaders of both religions to use their exalted positions to counter the propaganda of the misguided elements in the society.

On the bombing of Kano, the minister said the socio-economic consequencies went beyond the ancient city as the economy of the entire north was adversely affected.

“Kano is the economic nerve centre of the north, anything that effects the city affects the entire north. It is the centre of commerce for more than 500 years, it will take time to rebuild the psychological damage on the people.

“The activities of Boko Haram is capable of crippling the economy of the north, if leaders of both religions fail to rise against this development. The Chad axis is already on its knees while the caliphate is daily threatened.

He called on Nigerians to learn from the Yoruba experience in inter-religious harmony as well as the resolve by adherents of the two religions in Imo and Plateau to maintain peaceful co-existence in their areas.