Akume, Sultan Warn Against Weaponising Religion Ahead Of 2027 Polls

The secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), Senator George Akume and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Mohammed Sa’ad Abubakar, have cautioned political actors and other Nigerians’ against weaponisinng religion ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The leaders who spoke at the First Triannual Meeting of the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) held in Abuja yesterday, warned that such actions threaten national cohesion and stability.

Speaking on the theme of the event, “Religious Literacy For National Cohesion,” Akume said Nigeria’s diversity must remain a source of strength rather than division, stressing that faith should never be manipulated for political gains.

He said understanding religion beyond doctrine and ritual was critical to building trust and peaceful coexistence in a plural society.

The SGF emphasised that NIREC remains a vital platform for dialogue and national integration, describing it as a permanent structure designed to promote mutual understanding and sustainable peace.

“I must at this point bring your attention to the fact that the nation is coming to the end of the current political and electoral cycle.

“The 2027 general elections is fast approaching and NIREC through our traditional and religious leaders, faith-based organisations, youth associations, etc, has the moral responsibility for strengthening the network of collaboration, grass roots mobilisation, youth education, peaceful co-existence, tolerance, security and protection of lives and property in our communities are not compromised.

“You must ensure that all forms of manipulation within our communities are eliminated,” he stated.

Akume also warned that contemporary challenges such as insecurity, stereotypes, misinformation and identity manipulation continue to fuel conflict, adding that religious literacy helps citizens resist manipulation and reject prejudice.

Also, the Sultan of Sokoto and co-chair of NIREC, called for unity, insisting that Nigerians remain one people regardless of religious differences.

“No matter what anybody says anywhere outside this country, we are still one. We still believe in the unity of this country,” the Sultan said.

He stressed that dialogue remains the only sustainable path to peace, noting his involvement in global interfaith engagements under Religions for Peace, headquartered at the United Nations in New York.

The Sultan rejected any attempt to frame insecurity along religious lines, insisting that terrorists and bandits must be identified as criminals rather than being associated with any religion.

“Let us give bandits and terrorists their correct name. They are criminals, not Muslim terrorists or Christian terrorists,” he said.

He warned against misinterpretation of religious teachings by individuals who lack proper knowledge, stressing that religious literacy is essential to prevent distortion of faith for violence or political manipulation.

Earlier, the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and co-chair of NIREC, Archbishop Daniel C. Okoh, said Nigeria’s diversity must be harnessed as a strength rather than a source of conflict.

Okoh said religious literacy is not merely academic but a tool for building bridges of understanding and countering stereotypes and misinformation.

He called for the mainstreaming of religious literacy in schools, worship centres and public discourse, noting that faith institutions must consistently promote messages of peace, unity and responsible citizenship.

According to him, “our places of worship must become centres of enlightenment where peace and dignity of human life are emphasised.”

Earlier in his opening address, Prof. Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua, Executive Secretary of NIREC, stressed the need for government to provide a conducive environment for human formation and education, noting that a healthy society depends on functional systems that inspire hope.

He emphasised that religious literacy must contribute to national cohesion by shaping responsible citizens capable of peaceful coexistence.