As an influential figure, what do you think about the importance of living together among adherents of the various faiths?
As leaders, our key messages are always for peace, social cohesion and harmonious coexistence in the West African sub-region. Peace should not be only in our country but across nations. If there is no peace in the world, humanity is doomed; there will be no harmony and progress. In fact, without peace, society will become uncomfortable and life will be meaningless.
We need to promote economic cooperation among different nations in order to raise living standards and promote economic development of especially the ECOWAS countries where we live and belong to. We need to also work to address some security issues by developing peacekeeping initiatives to address conflicts in the region.
What I am saying is that the peaceful coexistence of people is a necessary and indispensable catalyst for development. Therefore, its importance cannot be over emphasized. Followers of various religious groups and intra-group sects must therefore live together peacefully and respect the faiths of one another, if any progress is to be made in any society.
Can you tell us about the traditional values and mechanisms for peace, social cohesion and tolerance?
Traditionally, in Gombe, we have a communal value system that ensures peaceful coexistence. These values are respect for elders, respect for religious leaders and respect for constituted authorities (the traditional institutions and government) among others.
These values gave us strong and cohesive family system that ensures that all members of the family live in peace with one another and with other members of the society.
The values equally entail that the societal interest was considered first before that of the individual. Today, the ECOWAS region is facing a phenomenon of terrorism with risks of spreading to many countries. This phenomenon is fostered by radicalisation and violent extremism.
Can you tell us the consequences of these evil acts?
Terrorism has taken a big toll on human lives. It has hampered development, created mutual suspicions and challenged the social cohesion that we built over the years. So, if we must develop as a region and get our desired glory in the world, we must strive to end terrorism. There is no country that prospered with terrorism activities. They are destructive.
What advice do you have for the masses and the different religious groups to avoid radicalisation and violent extremism?
We have to revive our values. We must preach peace, mutual respect, tolerance, empathy and love for one another. Our values are good but we are no longer respecting them. We must focus our preaching on peace. We should respect one another. We should be tolerant, not violent. And above all, if we have empathy and love for one another, I believe that will help in countering or discouraging radicalisation and violent extremism.
What advice do you have for young people to avoid being actors in terrorism and to avoid following terrorists’ groups in their actions?
I advise the young people to obey constituted authorities, respect their elders and follow the wise counsel of their parents. Lack of willingness to obey constituted authorities makes some of the youths join terrorist groups. Parents and elders should be doing wise counselling to our young people. If young people don’t have respect for authorities, parents and elders do not counsel them, they tend to be radicalised and join terrorist groups.
In your opinion, what should be the role of religious and traditional leaders in the prevention, mediation and resolution of conflicts?
In conflict prevention, mediation and resolution, religious leaders and traditional rulers must be objective, honest, balanced and just. It is part of the role of religious and traditional rulers to resolve conflicts because people respect them and listen to them. So, to maintain their influence and credibility, they need to be objective not subjective, be sincere and fair to all and sundry. That will help them to effectively mediate, resolve and prevent conflicts.
What dream do you have for ECOWAS and what are the actions to be taken?
I wish to see ECOWAS becoming a peaceful and highly integrated global power. I wish to see an ECOWAS that is powered by a highly productive regional economic integration with emphasis on strong financial and strategic support to members on areas of comparative advantage in terms of production and marketing. These could be achieved through good leadership, qualitative and relevant education. Other regions and countries that prospered have good leadership, quality education and commitment. I am optimistic that if we can have better leadership, sound and right education, we too will advance. I have the feeling that ECOWAS can achieve that. So, my dream is to see that there is peace in the region, we are highly integrated and become a global power. God help us.
