Nigerian religious leaders urge followers end nation's crises

(Jan. 09, 2013) Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan urged religious leaders to mould the characters of their followers to help stop the current crises facing the country. He also noted that Christianity and Islam , the country's two major religions , did not preach violence, and those who kill should not be considered religious. "We all know that no religion preaches or encourages violence and hate. Both the two major religions preach love and peaceful co-existence," the president said at a Jan. 6 Mass to celebrate Cardinal John Onaiyekan's recent elevation to cardinal and the 30th anniversary of his episcopal ordination.
During the Mass, the Cardinal condemned killing in the name of religion and warned that Nigeria was fast attracting the negative image of a nation of religious violence. He urged Nigerians to understand the inclusiveness of God's grace to all people, saying that "any God that promotes the killing of innocent people should not be worthy of our worship."
President Jonathan called on Nigerians to avoid violence and embrace dialogue as a means of settling disputes. "The church, the government and the political actors have the same responsibilities, and we believe that the church is at the center of society building," he added. He also said Pope Benedict XVI's appointment of Cardinal Onaiyekan helped promote interreligious harmony in Nigeria and reconciliation among all religious groups in the country.
Nigeria’s population of 160 million people is roughly divided between Christians and Muslims.