Elelu Commends Kwara Gov On IREC Constitution, Preaches Peace, Tolerance, Harmony

  

A Policy Analyst and Youth Advocate, Mudashir Bolakale Elelu, MBE, has commended Kwara State Governor, Mallam Abdulrasaq Abdulrahman on the constitution of a 12-member Inter-Religious Council (IREC) comprising elder statesmen, women and clergies drawn from the Muslim and Christian communities in the state. 

Recalled that the Kwara State government had recently announced the closure of Baptist School, Ijagbo, to forestall further breakdown of law and order following a free-for-all over the use of hijab by female Muslims in the school.

Reacting to the development, M. B. Elelu noted that steps taken by the state government so far to address the lingering inter-religious crises in the state are commendable, saying warring parties must embrace peace and shun any act that could jeopardise the current peace in the area and the state as a whole. 

He said "Our common understanding of the stakes of religious and ethnic conflict is inadequate. The consequences of these religious conflicts are immense. It would not only cause economic loss but also exasperate existing religious tensions and as a result, given rising to deep suspicion and distrust between Muslim and Christian communities. As a result, there needs to be both a top-down and bottom-up approach to resolving the religious conflict."

"We need to extol Kwara state government for taking a serious step towards promoting a culture of mutual understanding and harmonious coexistence between believers of the two faiths, while also ensuring peace, dialogue and trust are rebuilt"

Elelu, who is an Estate Surveyor and Valuer, appealed to religious stakeholders across the state to prioritise creating spaces where Christians and Muslims can meet, exchange ideas and work together, stressing that this way, communal relations can be improved through building a better understanding and awareness between faiths to change and challenge narratives of hate."

End.