Kaduna State Senator who represented the Central Senatorial District in the 8th Assembly, Comrade Shehu Sani has called on Nigerians to beware of participating in protest that is being called by spirits since the organizers are not known faces.
Senator Sani also lamented the decade of history of religious violence in Kaduna State, which he said has claimed thousands of lives and contributed to the rise of terrorism in the country.
Speaking as the keynote speaker at a book launch in Kaduna on Thursday, the lawmaker noted with regret that the state has become „balkanized“ along religious lines, with Christians and Muslims living in separate areas.
The book titled: “Religious perception of justice,‘ was authored by Rev.Dr Gideon Achi and presented at the Arewa House, Kaduna had in attendance, former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Martins Luther Agwai represented by Justice Haram Makere, Justice Esther Lolo, Professor Andrew Haruna (Book reviewer)Labour Party‘s governorship candidate in the 2023 poll in Kaduna, Hon. Jonathan Asake, Senator Shehu Sani, former Kaduna Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. Dr Joseph Hayab, Rev. Dr. Yunusa Nmadu, HRH Dominic Gambo Yahaya (Agwa Atyap) among others”
Sani expressed nostalgia for a past era when people of different faiths prayed together in harmony in any part of the state and emphasized on the need for religious leaders to promote tolerance and unity.
The former lawmaker also highlighted the devastating impact of bandit attacks on Southern Kaduna, and urged Nigerians to exercise their right to peaceful protest while avoiding violent demonstrations.
Sani said, “Kaduna state is a state in which in the last four decades has become a theatre of religious violence where thousands have lost their lives. The religious violence led to the advancement of terrorism in Nigeria.
“Religious extremism was not the way of life in the past but today Kaduna has become balkanized through religious sentiments”.
.We used to live in peace when we used to pray together as Christians and Muslims, but today Christians live in the South and Muslims live in the North with the bridge sharply dividing us.
Southern Kaduna has suffered the worst of bandits‘ attacks. Religious leaders have a role to play towards encouraging tolerance and togetherness.“
The former lawmaker praised the book, noting that while humans have limited lifespan, the contents of the book could shape generations to come.
As humans, we have a life span but a book has no life span, its content will continue to shape generations,“ he added.
Author of the book, Rev. Dr. Gideon Achi, noted that Nigerians must have a rethink on how religion was being viewed across the country.
He argued that the tenets of Islam and Christianity encouraged peaceful co-existence regardless of religious and ethnic affinities.
However, he noted that religious sentiments were being used to change the narratives which must be discouraged, adding, „That’s the reason for writing the book and looking at the various religious perspectives that would ensure justice for all.“