Religion, key to building a peaceful nation, says Oshiomhole

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State.

Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo has said that

religious gathering is important to building a

peaceful and virile nation.

Oshiomhole said this on Saturday in Benin while

declaring open the Annual Delegates Conference of

the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs

(NSCIA).

He said that such gatherings were important in

building a peaceful, just society, whose citizens and

leaders would be guided by the fear of God.

The governor said that this would ensure that policy

choices were guided by how they impact on the

people.

Oshiomhole said that people should be judged by

their actions and not their religious persuasion.

He called on the media to always draw a distinction

between religion and criminality.

According to him, ethnicity and prejudice should

also not be a basis for identification of criminals, as

such leads to unnecessary suspicion which also leads

to heightened crisis.

“ We must re-emphasise the teaching of religion at

all levels of education so that people can be worthy

in both learning and character,’’ he said.

The governor also said that democracy must compel

leaders to behave responsibly as well as deal with

crisis of inequality by using the instrument of

government to restore integrity in schools.

Oshiomhole said that this month, the state would

employ islamic teachers to redress the gap between

the teachings of both religions.

On the issue of dressing, he said that the state

government “respects the right to dress in

acceptable ways of any religion’’.