Int’l Peace Day: Shun Hate Speeches, Live Harmoniously, IDFP Tells Nigerians

The Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace (IDFP) has urged Nigerians to shun hate speeches, saying true peace requires building a nation where all citizens feel they can flourish and are free to live harmoniously. 

IDFP believes that achieving true peace entails much more than mere speculations on what needs to be done to change the situation around insecurity and hate speeches.

A statement made available to leadership yesterday to mark the International Day of Peace 2022 with the theme “End racism. Build Peace” signed by IDFP co-chairmen, Bishop Dr. Sunday Onuoha, and Alhaji Kunle Sanni Ishaq, called on the people of Nigeria and State Actors to work hard to achieve sustainable peace among the citizens in Nigeria.

Interfaith Forum also urged Nigerians to embrace peace; eschew violence, discrimination and hatred, and play politics without bitterness, in order to remain resolute in the development of the country.

The forum lamented that the nation is faced with lots of peace threatening issues, which include flood menace which has ravaged several towns in Nigeria for several decades leaving in its wake loss of thousands of lives, shortage of food, and billions of naira worth of properties damaged.

The statement reads in part: “This situation calls for holistic and urgent action on our part as individuals and that of the government.

“The importance of sensitizing government at all levels on the reality of climate change and possible risk reduction strategies is crucial in preventing flood menace in Nigeria.

“As conflicts continue to erupt across many parts of the country, displacing many people with its attendant tolls on the masses very negatively, we all have a role to play in fostering peace and tackling ethnic and religious intolerance.”

The Interfaith Forum also called on all compatriots to join hands together to save Nigeria by stopping the spread of division.