Stop beating drums of war - Lai Mohammed

Date: 2017-06-18

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has admonished those beating drums of war through hate speeches and divisive statements to desist in the interest of the nation's unity and safety.

The minister gave the advise on Saturday at the "Lai Mohammed 10th Annual Ramadan Lecture" held in his country home, Oro, Kwara.

Lai Mohammed expressed concerns over the rate of inflammatory statements capable of causing division and war in the country in recent times. He urged Nigerians to disregard those who were engaged in hate speeches as well as their purveyors.

"In the last couple of months, we have witnessed the increase inflammatory and hate speeches.

"Hate speeches have been responsible for wars. Rwandan genocide where more than 800,000 people were killed was started by hate speeches. "Like people say, wars are not really started by bullets, they are started by words of mouth.

"Nigeria is too big and God has a purpose for making us one and we shall remain united. "There will be differences, but like the Yoruba says, "Ori bibe ko ni ogun ori fifo" (beheading is not antidote to headache).

"We have been living together peacefully and we will continue to live together, because we have a lot to gain by being united. "If there is war today, none of us will escape whether you are young or old whether you are Yoruba, Igbo of Hausa ," he said.

The Minister recounted a story he said Acting President Yemi Osinbajo narrated on the dire consequences of the Rwanda war on two judges from that country. "The Acting President told us a story that in 1982, he was a young lecturer in the University of Lagos and two Supreme Court Judges came visiting from Rwanda.

"He said ten years later, in 1992, he went to work in Rwanda and on the street with a bowl in hand looking for food were the Supreme Court Judges that he saw in Lagos.

"This shows that when there is war, the young, the old, the rich and the poor, we are all victims," he said.

The Minister stressed that Nigerians must work together, understand their differences and must never pray for war.

Mohammed thanked those who attended the lecture noting that their presence was key to its success.

He said the Ramadan lecture, the tenth in the series, was unique because it's attendance cuts across religions and denomination.

The Minister explained that the presence of Christian faithfuls at the event was an indication that Nigerians, irrespective of their religious leaning, could work and live together.

The Special Guest of honour at the event, Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun said he was impressed with the turn out of people in their diversity at the event. The governor urged Muslim faithfuls to remain pious in the remaining days of Ramadan and pray for the unity of the country. Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara commended the Minister for organising the annual lecture.

The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Information, Mahmud Ajeigbe said it was a great feat for the minister to have sustained the Ramadan lecture for 10 years.

Earlier, the Guest Speaker, Sheikh Ibrahim Gidado from Lagos preached on piety especially during the Ramadan period.

He charged the gathering on the need for people to have the fear of God in all their dealings and to be compassionate and show love to the less privileged.

He also called for the support of Nigerians for the Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari as well as their prayers for the President's quick recovery.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Chief Imam of Oro, Mohammed Sanusi led other clerics at the event on prayers for the country, the President and his cabinet as well as the?minister and his members of families.

The lecture was attended by traditional rulers from Kwara, including Oloro of Oro, Oba Abdulrauf Oyelaran, Clerics, Muslim and Christian faithfuls, politicians, students and people from other walks of life.NAN

 


Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

08001000100     Igosun     Tosho Yaqub     Code Of Conduct Tribunal     Apata Ajele Secondary School     Lateef Alagbonsi     Kwara Coalition Of Business And Professional Associations     Imodoye Writer’s Enclave     Ilorin International Airport     Saadu Gbogbo Iwe     Tunji Moronfoye     Adamu Ibrahim Sabi     Mamatu Abdullahi     Muhammed Aliyu     Saidu Isa     Ado Ibrahim     Sabi     Basit Olatunji     Ministry Of Women Affairs And Social Development     Yunus Oniboki     Kwara State Printing And Publishing Corporation     Suraj Tunji Oyewale     Oluwole Dupe     Lotus Bank     Zara Umar     National Association Of Nigerian Students     Shehu Alimi Foundation For Peace And Development     Ilota     Principal Private Secretary     Barakat Community Secondary School     Yahaya Abdulkareem Babaita     Moro     Ilorin East/South Federal Constituency     V.O. Abioye     Binta Abubakar-Mora     Okin Malt     Abubakar Suleiman     Muhammadu Buhari     Dunmade     MAI Akande     Bilikisu Oniyangi     Michael Nzekwe     Waheed Ibrahim     Kola Ologbondiyan     Diagnostic Centre     KWSUED     Yahaya Oloriegbe     Elekoyangan     Dan-Kazeem     Unilorin     Femi Gbajabiamila     Kumbi Titilope     Lithium Deposit     Gamji Members Association     Esinrogunjo     Busari Alabi Alausa     Shehu Adaramaja     Rebecca Olanrewaju     Mutawali     Agboola Babatunde     Sulyman Tejidini     Ohoro Of Shao     Ayo Opadokun     REO CAKES     Kwara Consultative Forum     Ilorin Innovation Hub     Ayodele Olaosebikan     Mohammed Katsina Ahmed     Sobi FM     Opobiyi     Aiyedun     Oya State     Bola Sagaya     Toyosi Thomas     Ridhwanullah Al-Ilory     Owu Fall     Peter Amogbonjaye    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

David Adesina     Yusuf A. Usman     John Obuh     Kwara Coalition Of Business And Professional Associations     C2c@kwarastate.gov.ng     Olaosebikan     Aro Yahaya     Musibau Akanji     Christian Association Of Nigeria     Saheed Popoola     Lanwa     Hussein Olokooba     Asa     Radio SBS     Yaru     Ebola     Gobir Organization Foundation     IHS     Idris Amosa Oladipo Saidu     Sam Onile     Gambari     Abubakar Kawu Baraje     Adisa Logun     Akume     Bola Tinubu     Wasiu Odewale     Ilorin Innovation Hub     Www.Kwarareports.com     Press Release     Isiaka Alikinla     Sunday Popo-Ola     Elelu     Bolakale Saka     Lai Gobir     SSA Youth Engagement     Okiki     Ibikunle Ogunleye     Sulyman Age AbdulKareem     Yekini Adio     National Pilot     Illyasu Abdullahi     Gbenga Awoyale     Abdulmumini Jawondo     Kayode Alabi     Mahfouz Adedimeji     Sam Okaula     Modupe Oluwole     Olaiya Victor Mobolaji     Sunday Fagbemi     Old Oyo     Makama     Ekweremadu     Onilupeju Of Ilupeju     EndSARS     Yoonus Lawal     Elerin Of Erin-Ile     Muftau Akanbi Oke     Igosun     Oba David Oyerinola Adedunmoye     Kisra     Alaro     Olushola Saraki     Adam Abdullahi Al-Ilory     Sadiq Buhari     Aasiyat Bello Oyedepo     Ibrahim Labaika     Firdaos Amasa     Mahe Abdulkadir     Segun Ogunsola     Tuesday Assayomo     National Broadcasting Commission     Islamiya Abdulraheem     Sun Qing Rong     Mutawali     NIRSAL     Kwabes     Chief Imam Of Ilorin