Former Secretary General of the Anglican Communion Worldwide, Most Reverend Josiah Idowu-Fearon, has urged Kaduna Governor, Uba Sani, and his predecessor, Nasir El-Rufai, to bury their hatchets and work together for the development and growth of the state.
Idowu-Fearon, the former Anglican Archbishop of Kaduna Diocese and Chairman of the Kaduna State Peace Commission, called on Governor Sani and El-Rufai to mend fences, saying they should be seen working together rather than fighting.
In a Zoom meeting with some selected journalists in Kaduna, the cleric reacted to the recent media war between the two political figures in the state.
Idowu-Fearon, who is also the Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Southwark and Theologian in Residence at St John the Divine, Houston, advised Sani and El-Rufai to stop harming themselves with unnecessary verbal attacks, but rather work together for the good of the nation.
“The situation is not a healthy development at all. Our not helping to resolve it when it started is a reflection of elders in the state not playing their roles effectively enough,” he said.
“Both the religious and traditional elders have failed, and my suspicion is that we failed because we did take sides. Still, hope is not lost, with prayers and perseverance, God will show us the way out of this unfortunate situation, which has polarized the political elites in Kaduna.”
He called on political leaders and the citizens to stop the politicization of religion in Nigeria in general, and in the Northern States in particular, saying, “Anyone who has faith in God is a fellow believer, our religions are different, religion does not save anyone!”
He added, “Religious leaders should stop poisoning the minds of their members with what their scriptures do not teach. Believers, as described here, can work together, serve together, and develop Kaduna together.
“You have your religion, and I have my religion, calls for cooperation, and contest in the doing of good deeds. Muslim-Christian, Muslim-Muslim, Christian-Christian is the wrong mantra! Let us together get people of faith to serve Nigerians, and we will see the difference.”
Idowu-Fearon, however, advised political leaders in Kaduna to change their attitude towards governance, “The young people are asking for evidence of governance, let there be accountability, transparency, and equity.
“We desire equal treatment on the basis of qualification, experience, and performance, let the public know what is going on and how our resources are being shared.”
