Former Minister of Aviation and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has described religious intolerance in the country as a major threat to Nigeria’s corporate existence.
He disclosed this while delivering a keynote address at a book launch organised by Christian Initiative for Civic Peace and Justice on a book titled “The Jihad In Nigeria Politics and the Plight of Northern Nigerian Christians” written by Rev. Samuel Ayuba Kantiok, in Abuja on Friday.
Fani-Kayode called on all Nigerians to think beyond religious lines and seek peaceful means to resolve national problems.
He also called on the Federal Government to halt all forms of ethnic cleansing against Christian minorities in the country even as he also called on Christians to stand up against any form injustice.
The former minister called on the Christians in the North to seek for elective positions in their localities and the national level.
He specifically called on a former Chief of Army Staff, retired General Theophilus Danjuma to contest for the forthcoming 2019 presidential election or anoint one of his allies to do so.
“There is need for Nigerians to halt the senseless killings by alleged Fulani Herdsmen. We need to take up this challenge in a positive way to end this carnage and senseless killings.
“We have Muslims in the South-West, I will like to call on Muslims in the North to emulate the lifestyle of Muslims in the South-West.
“Each day passes and these killings continue. These senseless killings must stop. The minorities are being suppressed, oppressed and being killed to the extent that they don’t know where they are from,” he said.
He further lamented that Leah Sharibu, one of the Dapchi school girls, who was kidnapped by Boko Haram and the only Christian girl, still remains in captivity.
He noted that there was the need for a common understanding between Christians and Muslims in the country to promote national unity.
“All hope is not lost for Nigeria, all we need is a common understanding,” Fani-Kayode added.
Reviewing the book, Dr. Abubakar Mai Wa’azi Manzo, described the book as timely.
He noted that the labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain and urged clerics to preach peace.
