By Luminous Jannamike, Abuja The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), His Eminence Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, and the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Most Rev. Dr Daniel Okoh, have urged Nigerians to reject hate speech and embrace dialogue, insisting that the country’s religious diversity should be harnessed to build peace rather than fuel division. The appeal came as Christian and Muslim leaders converged on Abuja to unveil the Interfaith Code of Conduct (ICoC), a landmark framework aimed at combating hate speech, promoting responsible religious leadership and strengthening peaceful coexistence amid growing concerns over violence and polarising rhetoric.
Muhammad Isah Maishanu, set the tone for the conference with a call for faith leaders to become builders of peace. Archbishop Daniel Okoh, represented by Most Rev. Dr Benebo Fubara-Manuel, reinforced that message, while organisers of the gathering urged participants to move beyond declarations by putting the Code into everyday practice across churches, mosques and communities.
“Religious leaders have a sacred responsibility to use their influence to foster peace rather than deepen divisions,” the Sultan said. He warned that hate speech and inflammatory rhetoric continue to drive conflicts in many communities and challenged religious leaders to promote tolerance, understanding and mutual respect through their teachings and public engagements. The Sultan said the Interfaith Code of Conduct provides a practical framework for deepening cooperation between Christians and Muslims while encouraging responsible religious leadership capable of promoting peaceful coexistence.
“Dialogue remains the most effective tool for resolving differences,” he said, adding that Nigeria’s religious diversity should be regarded as a source of strength rather than division. Archbishop Okoh described the launch of the Code as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s peacebuilding efforts, saying it reflects the shared commitment of Christian and Muslim leaders to addressing the root causes of violence and intolerance. “The initiative reflects the shared commitment of Christian and Muslim leaders to fostering harmony and addressing the root causes of violence and intolerance across the country,” he said throu…
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