Religious manipulation reason for conflict in Nigeria – Minister

The Minister of Foreign Affair, Geoffrey Onyeama, has expressed concern over the state of security in Nigeria, urging Nigerians to do away with religion and communal beliefs that have become tools of manipulation and conflict in society.

 The minister disclosed this yesterday, when he spoke alongside other stakeholders, during the opening of the National Policy Roundtable on the Network of Policy Makers to support reconciliation, peace and security in Nigeria.

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Onyeama said that the communal lifestyle of Africans is largely expressed in their religious beliefs, which facilitates solidarity, togetherness, and neighbourliness.

“Regrettably, religion and communal living are painted as fundamentals that are inimical to peace, security and development,” he said.

He noted that in the political history of post-independence, Nigeria was awash with tragic instances of violent conflict and acrimony that had erupted as a result of the manipulation of religion and other identity markers such as the ethnic market. 

Also speaking the Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, emphasised the need to give more roles to women in leadership for a lasting solution to the current problems of violent conflicts in the country.

 “The hoodlums we have, all Boko Haram, all the kidnappers, they have mothers in every community,” she said.