Mr Benedict Alabi, the Deputy Governor of Osun State has charged religious leaders in the state and Nigeria at large to step up the campaign against immorality and societal decadence which is the bedrock of the country’s challenges.
Alabi maintained that religious leaders have an advantageous position of influence in the society; therefore, they must ensure that they assisted in restoring moral values in the society through their sermons, preaches and conducts.
The deputy Governor stated this in his remarks at the commissioning of new office complex of Justice, Development and Peace Makers’ Centre of the Catholic Diocese, Osogbo, on Thursday.
According to Alabi who was represented by the Supervisor of the Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr Adelani Baderinwa, leaders of the different faiths must helped the government in addressing social menace and the fight against corruption in particular.
He assured the Church of the readiness of Governor Gboyega Oyetola’s administration to support and collaborate with relevant organizations to develop the state.
Alabi called for religious tolerance for peaceful cohabitation and harmonious relationship between the followers of the two dominant religions and other people at large, saying that it is important to relate with one another as human being and not as a Christian or Muslim.
The Deputy Governor said: “The preaches, sermons and gospels of the religious leaders must not be inciting, divisive and harsh. We need to duel more on what unite us a people, and do away with what divide us as adherent of our different faiths.
“Our religious leaders must see themselves as stakeholders in maintaining and sustaining peace. The voice of our religious leaders is always loud and clear when they are making a right and just call for nation building and righteous path.
“The leaders of our different religions need to call and support access to justice, and not in anyway support or be bamboozled to give crime religious or ethnical coloration.
“They need to step up the preaches and sermon that will instill the fear of God, contentment, patience and hardwork on our teeming youths, for our society to be organised and peaceful.
The General Coordinator of the Centre, Reverend Father Peter Akinkunmi stated that the centre and Catholic Church do not discriminate, nor engaged in religious hatred, saying that they value good human relationships.
Akinkunmi said the Centre has contributed immensely in rebuilding the society though it various social welfare programmes that involved securing justice, assisting the less privilege, campaign against female genital mutilation, promotion of child education.
Packaged by Mariam Azeez
