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.

Salmon Babatunde Salmon     Adijat Adebiyi     Police Commissioner     KWSUED     Abubakar Usman Jos     Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa     Ibrahim Labaika     Odolaye Aremu     Neuropsychiatric Hospital     Ibrahim Taiwo Road     Press Release     AbdulFatai Adeniyi Dan-Kazeem     Tsaragi     Oke-Oyi     Ileloke     Haleeman Salman     Mohammed Kamaludeen     Moji Makanjuola     Dairo Kunle Paul     Yakubu Danladi     Aliyu Umar     Babaloja-General     Babajide Ajayi     Adamu Atta     Millennium Development Goals     Innocent Okoye     Oko     Kayode Ishola     Lukman Adeloyin     Afolayan     Funmilayo Isiaka Oniwa     Saliu Alamoyo     Maryam Ado Bayero     Guber Aspirant     Amina El-Imam     Mufutau Olatinwo     Albert Ogunsola     Rex Olawoye     Bello Taoheed Abubakar     Saheed Popoola     Olaiya Lawal     Omu Aran     Labour Party     Sherif Shagaya     Abdulrosheed Okiki     ER-KANG Mining     Labaeka     National Pilot     Yakub Lai Gobir     Abubakar Aliagan     Maja     Arandun     Ita-Ore     Ahmed Mohammed Rifun     Jamila Bio Ibrahim     Farouk Salim     Government High School Adeta     Democracy Day     Baba Issa Awoye     Abdulganiyu Salahudeen     Usman Rifun     Tayo Alao     Amuda Bembe     New Nigeria People’s Party     Ilorin     Ibrahim Oloriegbe     Issa Baba     General Hospital, Ilorin     LAK Jimoh     Read With Me     Oke-Ogun     Alabere     ARMTI     Nagode     Kwara North     Hikmah AbdulKareem     Kwarareports.com    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

AbdulFatai Adeniyi Dan-Kazeem     Student Learning Support Helpline     IEDPU     Aishat Mohammed Lawal     Moshood Kashimawo Abiola     Mogaji Aare     Saliu Oluwole     Abdulkadir Jimoh     NAWOJ     Radio SBS     Sango-UITH Road     Abegunde Goke     Lai Gobir     Offa     Durosinlohun Atiku     Makama     Yusuf Zulu-Gambari     Abubakar Bature Sulu-Gambari     Lanre Issa Onilu     Ahmad Olanrewaju Belgore     Abdullahi Dasilva Yussuf     NNPP     ASKOMP     Alimi Abdulrazaq     Just Law Forum     Jimoh Akani     V.O. Abioye     Hamza Usman     Alabere     Babata     Kayode Yusuf     Ganiyu Abolarin     Suleiman Rotimi Iliasu     Abdulhakeem Adelaja Amao     Forgo Battery Company Limited     Harmony Holdings     Saduki Lafiagi     Aisha Ahman Pategi     Elerin Of Erin-Ile     Awwal Jawondo     Omupo     Kwara Hotel     Makama Of Ilorin     Olufolake Abdulrazaq     Ado Ibrahim     Ahman Pategi     Doyin Awoyale     Chikanda     Ahman Pategi University     Ilota     Saka Abimbola Isau     John Olobayo     Olabanji Orilonishe     Kwara North     Sa\'ad Alanamu     Razaq Ayobami Akanbi     Taiwo Joseph     Salihu Alhaji Musa     National Party Of Nigeria     Inside Kwara     Halimat Yusuf     Danladi     Lola Olabayo     Haliru Dantoro     Ejidongari     Facemasks     Asa     Umar Gunu     Playing Host     KWIRS     CUTI     Ilesha-Baruba     Henry Olaosebikan     Elesie Of Esie     Emir Of Ilorin     Wahab Femi Agbaje     AbdulHamid Adi