The US Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, Samuel Brownback, has urged political office holders, representatives of civil society and religious leaders to focus on peacebuilding and avoid stoking ethno-religious tensions.
At a one-day national youth dialogue on ethno-religious tolerance organised by the U.S Consulate General Lagos in partnership with the African Youths Initiative for Crime Prevention (AYICRIP) Brownback commended increased inter-faith engagement and dialogue in Nigeria.
The envoy, who met with a group of religious leaders during a recent visit to Nigeria in June, noted the nation can do more to protect citizens’ right to religious freedom.
“We need to do better than just achieving tolerance; we need to truly care for each other.
“The people who stand for peace do not do this because they are from the same ethnic group or because they share a common religion. They believe the lives of everyone are sacred,” Brownback stated.
U.S. Consul General John Bray, who opened the event, reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to supporting initiatives that promote peace.
He admonished Nigerians to ensure that cyclical communal violence does not threaten national unity.
“Each of us has a role to play in tamping down tensions between communities of all kinds,” Bray noted.
“It is in your hands to ensure that this tragic violence does not descend into broader ethnic and religious fighting, and a cycle of reprisals.
“We must all make sure that the fighting does not eat away at the fabric of Nigeria, the multi-religious and multiethnic tolerance that makes this a great and unified nation,” he concluded.