THE ROLE OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN PEACE BUILDING

THE ROLE OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN PEACEBUILDING

Fr. Prof. Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua

Executive Secretary

Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC)

 

Whenever the lyrics of the National anthem are echoed, the Nigerian citizens are reminded of their pledge to “serve our fatherland” as “one nation bound in freedom, peace and unity.” In spite of this oath of allegiance to serve one nation, some people have opined that Nigeria is not a nation but a mere geographical expression. One would have expected that the construction of this one nation that started long ago would have been completed by now with visible dividends of what a civilized nation should be. The human and natural resources are not in short supply so there is no reason to remain at the level we are now. In 1960, this building project of one nation was taken over by those who thought that the human beings who were amalgamated from different empires and tribes would have a new identity in a way and manner that each citizen would be proud to be called a Nigerian. With Nigeria’s independence, it was thought that the end of slavery and colonialism had been achieved. Unfortunately, Nigeria is still gasping for breath like a patient on oxygen with a life seeking for meaning. The gun cannot kill an ideology nor can it impose virtue in the hearts of human beings. Unity in diversity has become a mirage in Nigeria hence religious leaders must promote mutual trust. 

 

Peace and unity are products of justice. So far, one of the efforts of the religious leaders to promote peace and unity is the establishment of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC). This council is one visible sign of the government’s efforts to support the mission of peace and unity in Nigeria. The preamble to the Constitution of NIREC is a compass that points to the direction of peace and unity: “We, the representative of the two Principal Religions - Islam and Christianity in Nigeria, having voluntarily decided by ourselves to come together to form an association on the 11thday of September, 1999, and the association having been inaugurated on the 29th day of September, 1999, guided by our divine revelations and the dictates of our CREATOR, determined, within the context of our religions, to forge Inter-Religious harmony and concord, having firmly and solemnly resolved, within the confines of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to live in unity, harmony and peace for the welfare, security and prosperity of our peoples and our Nation under God, do hereby make, enact and give to ourselves this Constitution to guide and direct our collective endeavors.” 

 

Our Sister, Amina Tukur Othman is making a clarion call inher book to everybody to “SHUN VIOLENCE AND EMBRACE PEACE.”  The major cause of violence in Nigeria is not religion even though, some of our leaders have politically raped the society and blinded their victims with the garment of religion. Religious leaders must deliver religion from this abuse. The reality is that hunger is one of the strong dividers in human existence while abundant food is a strong connector. Hunger has turned some people to slaves, thugs and hero worshippers. Even the devil knows the danger of hunger and how food can make some people worship the creatures in preference to the creator. Imagine how the devil wanted to distract Jesus with food. Jesus was tempted by the devil to turn stone into bread. But Jesus replied, Scripture says: “Man does not live on bread alone” (Luke 4:1-4). 

 

The desire to turn stone to bread is a serious source of conflictand violence. Some are ready to take human life to occupy leadership positions to amass so much wealth that would enable them keep the poor as perpetual slaves. Even the climate change in the world today is the effort of the human person to turn stone to bread. This has affected green vegetation, aquatic life, and the environment. The search for green pastures has led to violence between the Herdsmen and various communities in Nigeria. 

 

We can go further to identify the types of conflicts in the different context and places in Nigeria. This would assist the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) and all who have passion for peace building through sacrificial and sincere dialogue to address these challenges. This is one of the reasons for the National Consultative forum that was organized by NIREC on February 27, 2019 at NICON Luxury, Abuja. Every National Inter-Religious Council in Africa was requested by the African Council of Religious leaders (ACRL) to organize this forum in preparation for the 10thworld Assembly of Religions for Peace (RfP) in Lidau, Germany. The entire world is in need of peace hence the commission paper in preparation for the world assembly states that violent conflict, war and terrorist attacks are most obvious expressions of aggression, intolerance, and disharmony in our world today. However, widespread inequality, exploitation and oppression have now become destructive and devastating around the world. 

Hunger is a product of injustice in the distribution of resources. This is why it is very sad that injustice in Nigeria has taken a ‘structural’ form of conflict and violence. Greed for power and governance has made politics appear like a very serious divider at all levels of human existence in Nigeria. Desire for prestige positions have separated some close relatives and friends in the political history of many nations. This has made politics a double edge sword that can even penetrate the unity that exists in religion and traditional institutions. Over-ambition for political positions have turned neighbours into guerilla warriors with their native communities as battle fields for guerilla warfare. So, the desperation to win elections has turned election fields to battle fields. Whereas leadership ought to be a connector in the political, social and religious life of the people, those who should be leaders have made themselves rulers who promise to turn stone to bread for their supporters. A true leader ought to be a connector because he or she ought to transcend party, tribe and religious affiliation. It is only good governance that can eradicate all forms of conflicts and violence. 

It is sad that some political actors who promote conflicts and violence do not fall from the sky. They live among us and belong to different communities. They are not atheist. They profess faith in God either as Christians or Muslims. These people perhaps believe in prayer and fasting. They believe in life, death, hell or heaven. This is why religious leaders must not be tired of teaching their adherents the value of peace and unity. In times like these, we must hearken to these words of the Prophet Joel: “It is the Lord who speaks – come back to me with all your heart, fasting, weeping, mourning. Let your hearts be broken, not your garments torn, turn to the Lord your God again, for he is all tenderness and compassion, slow to anger, rich in mercy and ready to relent (Joel 2:12-13). According to Pope Francis, God is never tired of forgiving us; we are the ones who are tired of seeking his mercy. 

The Actors of conflict or peacebuilding could be an individual, organization, community, traditional rulers, religious leaders or political leaders. To contribute to the peacebuilding process, we must renounce ourselves and our selfish desires. Jesus Christ instructed his followers: “If anyone wants to be my disciple, let him renounce himself and take up his cross every day and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake will save it (Luke 9:23). I believe very strongly that whoever wants to be a peacebuilder with a sincere intention to prevent conflict, resolve conflict and transform conflict in the context of NIREC must be ready and willing to make sacrifice. It is not enough to have a higher degree to be a peacebuilder and conflict manager. This is why delegates to NIREC must be men and women who have passion for dialogue. They must be warriors over their temperaments. The monetary benefits should be secondary. According to Jesus Christ, “Seek first the kingdom of God and every other thing will be given to you (Matthew 6:33). In this context, the Kingdom of God is perfect peace. Blessed are the peace makers, they shall be called children of God (Matthew 5:7). Every peacemaker is a potential Saint. The Great Saint, Pope John Paul II says: “Do not be afraid to be Saints. Follow Jesus Christ who is the source of freedom and light. Be opened to the Lord so that he may lighten all your ways.” Every religious leader should strive to be a connector in peacebuilding. 

Every peacebuilder and conflict manager should be an actor and a connector who must through dialogue engage the funders, promoters, dividers and beneficiaries of conflict to see the need for conflict transformation as an integral part of humanity. God did not create human beings in isolation hence no man is an island just as no tree can make a forest. As long as human beings live in different forms of communities, the quest for peaceful co-existence is inevitable. It would do the nation a lot of good if every Christian and Muslim could identify with NIREC as a family and model of peaceful co-existence. This divine obligation would promote a culture of non-violence. Consequently, religious leaders and NIREC delegates need personal and institutional skills that would enable them take Nigeria to a level where the citizens do not merely survive on the remnants of the rich but live and experience life in abundance (John 10:10). There is need for an expounded NIREC that must go behind the fifty delegates to the grass roots that would actively involve the youths and women. This would enable NIREC to transform negative peace of oppression, discrimination and inequality to positive peace of a just and fair society for all and the restoration of relationships. To be happy in life, we need structures that can sustain peaceful societies and NIREC has the capacity and potentials for this mission. Let us therefore make the world a better place. Let us be among the connectors and refuse to join the dividers in peacebuilding. When there is a will, there is a way so let us make paradise on earth by the grace of God. Let nothing stop us now! I congratulate Amina Tukur Othman, our celebrated author of “SHUN VIOLENCE AND EMBRACE PEACE.”