The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Gender Awareness Trust (GAT) have called on religious leaders in Kaduna State to mobilize and support their followers for peaceful and credible gubernatorial and state assembly elections.
The JNI chairman and CAN secretary, Alhaji Ibrahim Kufena and Reverend Ma’aji Bawa in a statement issued yesterday, expressed concern over how places of worship are being used for politics by some religious preachers, saying “Some have commonized the holy place meant for holy service, campaigning for candidates and parties and issuing out unholy messages.”
They appealed to all preachers of the Islamic and Christian faiths to resist the temptation of using sacred altars and pulpits to carry out unhealthy politics of promoting one party or candidate above the others.
They stressed the need for imams, pastors, and other leaders of faith to remain apolitical and neutral.
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Also, the Executive Director of GAT, Dr Lydia Umar, said following the killing of a female political leader in Sanga Local Government Area of the state in 2022, it became necessary to advocate and call on residents of the state to allow peaceful elections for them to vote for candidates of their choice.