By Yunusa Isa
On its efforts to foster peace, unity and religious tolerance amongst diverse communities in Gombe State, TEKAN Peace Desk through its Faith for Peace (F4P) Project has engaged local actors on road walk campaigns to sensitise community members on religious tolerance, extremism and human rights for sustainable peace and development.
PERISCOPE NIGERIA reports that during the campaign on Tuesday at Malam Sidi of Kwami Local Government, participants walked round Malam Sidi Town preaching peace, love, togetherness and care for one another irrespective of all differences.
Before the road walk, the Senior District Head of Kwami represented by Mai Tangle of Kwami Local Government Rector Danjin Turawa, stressed the importance of peace amongst members of the society, maintaining that “peace is the backbone of every development, without which, we are going nowhere”.
He said the heterogenous nature of Gombe People makes it possible to find within a family, members of different faiths.
While emphasising the importance of being brothers keepers, the traditional leader encouraged fair play in politics, maintaining that it’s never a do or die affair.
He attributed political crisis and post election violence in communities to ignorance and lack of awareness, calling on TEKAN Peace Desk to sustain the tempo.
The Mai appreciated its foresight in organising the awareness campaign, describing it as catalyst for cementing brotherhood and understanding amongst diverse community members and groups.
He encouraged Kwami people to be peace loving and brothers keepers irrespective of religious, ethnic or political affiliations.
On his part, TEKAN Peace Desk Media Officer Joseph Ojedeji, said the road walk was to increase public awareness on human rights and religious tolerance in Gombe State.
He said “We come to understand that ethno-religious and political violence have brought a lot of backwardness to our communities, hence the need to go down into communities to create awareness on the importance of religious tolerance.”
Joseph maintained that being critical stakeholders in ensuring peace and progress, the campaign mobilised youths, women, traditional and religious leaders to support the campaign for peaceful and progressive societies.
While encouraging all stakeholders to preach peace, unity and religious tolerance, the media officer maintained that “Not everybody will be your religion, we therefore need to learn how to live together as brothers”.
The one-day road walk which simultaneously took place in Malam Sidi and Kwami Gari, drew participants from religious, community, youths and women groups, chanting peace and love songs while carrying placards conveying different messages to include “Prevent religious extremism, promote peace”, “Religious freedom is a human right”, “United for religious tolerance”, “Respect all faiths, respect all rights”, “Together we can protect human rights” amongst others.
Faith for Peace Project is being implemented by TEKAN Peace Desk in six communities of three local government areas (Ɓilliri, Kwami and Yamaltu-Deba) of Gombe State, with support from Bread for the World and the European Union.
