ONDO ASSEMBLY URGES RELIGIOUS LEADERS ON PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCEBy Awodeyi ElizabethOndo State House of Assembly has urged religious leaders to put in more effort in preaching peace and unity to eradicate religious conflict.Hon Akinrogunde Akintomide who is the Vice Chairman, House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development,gave the charge when he led other members of the committee on oversight visit to the state Christian and Muslim Welfare boards.Akinrogunde who commended the chairmen for demonstrating the real meaning of religion saying that religion is about attitude and faith urged them to be ambassadors of peace, posited that peace is an essential ingredient of development.While charging them for effective data based collection and management that will add value to the state, the Vice Chairman also encouraged the boards to look inward for an oriented programs that will sensitize people more about peaceful society and include it in their 2023 budget.While admitting that the situation in the country was not too encouraging, especially with scarcity of funds, the Vice Chairman stressed the need for individuals to use influence to facilitate masses oriented projects and programmes for further development.Other Lawmakers, while assuring them of legislative backing in every positive steps taken, called for synergy between the two Board to achieve the set goals.The Lawmakers also affairmed that nothing should cause conflict between both religions as we are brothers and sisters, said It is the responsibility of religious leaders to guide against religious conflicts to ensure security of lives and property.Earlier, the Chairman, Christian Welfare Board, Very Rev. I.A Agboola affirmed that 23 people went to the Holy Land out of 43 that obtained form and screened. The Chairman who also noted that the board has been struggling with self sponsorship to the holy land said that arrangements are ongoing for another pilgrimage.Also at the Muslim Welfare Board, the Chairman, Alhaji Zikirulahi Chandy informed members that welfare of Muslims in the state have been taken as priority through empowerment programmes, supports and smooth Hajj. He also stated that the present government has laid a solid foundation for inter hey-religious relations in the state.While appealing to the House to look inward to a law that will enable the board to be in control of all the muslim bodies in the state, affirmed that they have roles to play in promoting peaceful co -existence in the nation through re- orientation of people.
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