NSCIA, Vatican unite against hate speech, preach peaceful coexistence

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has warned against rising religious intolerance, hate speech, and fake news in Nigeria, saying these threaten the country’s unity and social cohesion.

The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of NSCIA, His Eminence Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, stated this while receiving the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, at the National Mosque, Abuja.

The religious leader, who spoke through NSCIA’s Deputy Secretary-General, Professor Salisu Shehu, said the essence of the visit was to promote mutual understanding and the need for cooperation across religious and faith communities in promoting peace and peaceful coexistence, as well as working towards maintaining and improving the security situation not just in Nigeria but across the world.

Professor Shehu said: “This is a meeting in which His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, received Archbishop Gallagher, who is an important and key personality from the Vatican. He heads the office that coordinates diplomatic relationships and international linkages at the Vatican. He came with an entourage that included visitors from the Vatican as well as leaders of the Catholic community in Nigeria.

“His Eminence warmly welcomed the visitor and praised the Catholic community, especially in Nigeria, for being very cooperative and highly committed to peaceful coexistence in the country. He also acknowledged their willingness to work together with him through various interfaith organisations and activities to ensure that peace and security are promoted in Nigeria.

“One of the major issues discussed was the need to fight hate speech because, to a large extent, hate speech has been most injurious to peaceful coexistence in the country. It has created what may be described as perceptual and relational crises among faith communities in Nigeria.”

He added: “Therefore, there was a strong call for all religious and faith communities to work together to combat hate speech, especially the growing and unfortunate phenomenon whereby some individuals openly insult religious leaders who are highly respected within their various faith communities. There was also a call to tame such behaviour and ensure that people refrain from insulting not only important religious figures but even ordinary individuals, who equally deserve respect. Another issue discussed was the need to fight fake news. Fake news is another evil being used to precipitate a lot of trouble in the country, and therefore, it is something that we must collectively confront.

“There was also a discussion on the need to address the overall moral perversion that is holding sway in the world today. We are witnessing a great deal of moral degeneration and moral perversion globally, and it is the duty of religious leaders and faith workers to ensure that these challenges are confronted. Finally, there was a discussion on the need to fight atheism, the growing rejection of God among young people, both within the Muslim and Christian communities.”

Archbishop Gallagher, in his remarks, charged the religious leaders to work together for the interest of Nigeria and its citizens, expressing optimism about religious cohesion in the country.

He said: “The visit has been very, very good. I was delighted to be invited by His Eminence, the Sultan. We had a very frank and illuminating conversation, ‘illuminating’ is the word he used and it was good to hear that many of our positions regarding the role of religious leaders, both on the Catholic side and the Muslim side, coincide.

“For me, this is a reason for optimism regarding the religious cohesion of the country and our shared commitment to working for the good of all Nigerians. The observation is that there is a common view and a common conviction that Christians and Muslims, particularly their leaders, must work together for the common good of all Nigerians.”