At the Al-Ahfad Mosque in Gombe on Tuesday, clerics and members of the Muslim and Christian communities gathered for a special Ramadan Iftar with the goal of promoting harmony and religious tolerance.
Speaking at the ceremony, Prince Adewole Adebayo, the Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) 2023 presidential candidate, characterized the conjunction of Ramadan and the Christian Lenten season as a singular chance for a national rebirth.
The opportunity to redeem ourselves, reaffirm our religion, and consider our collective identity is the main message of this holy Ramadan, which falls during Christians’ Lent, Adebayo stated.
He asserts that rather than causing discord, the existence of Islam and Christianity in Nigeria should be viewed as a “double blessing.”
He called on Nigerians to uphold the fundamental principles of both faiths—peace, fairness, and responsible leadership—in order to create a cohesive and forward-thinking country.
He said, “If we come together and use the principles of our religions to raise a new generation, they won’t be thinking about how to get rid of each other; instead, they will be thinking about how to get rid of bad leadership.” “Our faith and religious traits speak of justice, peace, and the development of leaders who will bring us all together, and the earlier we begin, the better for us.”
Dr. Umar Dokaji, the mosque’s chief imam, stated earlier in his remarks that the meeting was appropriate given that both Muslims and Christians observe fasting times.
He said that asking Islamic and Christian experts to share a meal together was a real-world example of religious tolerance, particularly during a period when the nation is dealing with ethnic and terrorist crises in some areas and claims of religious persecution.
While urging assistance for marginalized communities and emphasizing that justice is still crucial to addressing Nigeria’s ongoing problems, Dokaji stated, “This type of gathering will help unite the two major religious faithful and will go a long way in preventing deadly religious crisis in the largest Black nation on earth.”
Speaking on behalf of the Christian invitees, Reverend Abare Kalla, a former North-east Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, explained that the united fasting period was divinely planned.
He emphasized that the vast majority of Muslims around the world oppose terrorism and added that the prayers and supplications made by Muslims during Ramadan are similar to those made by Christians during Lent.
He continued by saying that the forces of violence and division endangering the nation may be defeated by Christians and Muslims working together.
As an example of peaceful coexistence, Kalla recounted how the Christian and Muslim communities in Nasarawa State had previously settled a dispute over a house of worship in an amicable manner.
Islamic academics, Christian priests, and local officials came together for the interfaith Iftar with a shared demand for justice, peace, and national unity.
