By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna?
The multidimensional challenges being experienced by Nigeria can be surmounted if only those in leadership positions carry everyone along by understanding and respecting the country’s heterogeneity and as well ensure that equity, justice, and fairness rule in all government businesses.
While the government owes Nigerians a duty to consider the multi-ethnicities and religious divides in key appointments, Nigerians are to play supportive roles by avoiding sensitive comments that are capable of creating chaos.
These were the views of Pastor PeteRock Sadiq, the Resident Pastor of, House on the Rock Church, Minna, Niger state, as he laments the damaging consequences of leaders not doing enough to bridge the gap and followers also not playing their part for a peaceful Nigeria.
Speaking to journalists ahead of the 3rd Edition of its annual Christian musical concert tagged ‘Shout’, Pastor Sadiq argued that being humans, there is bound to be anger and disenchantment where discrimination, inequality, lack of fairness, and injustice are meted out to a section of the country.
“Nigerian leaders may not be that bad but may be overwhelmed by the numerous challenges. Both the leaders and followers have a role to play in ensuring that there is peace”, Pastor Sadiq said, expressing optimism that the challenges which may have been from the time of independence cannot be insurmountable.
“Both leaders and the led have key roles to play in building the Nigeria of our collective dreams. Everything should be balanced to ensure equity and end discordant voices of marginalization and related clamor.
“It is not about a Christian, a Moslem, or persons of any other religious faith being at the helm of affairs because the two major religions preach peace and love, it is doing what is right in the interest of equity fairness, and justice. It is not about an Igbo, a Yoruba, or Hausa as the driver because Nigeria is bigger than any single tribe and we still have both good and bad in all the tribes, political divides, and regions.
“We have both Christians and Moslems in my family. Let us not use religion as a people to short-change one another. What Nigeria is yearning for now is having someone, who, as a father, would not leave out any of his children in sharing what rightly belongs to all of them.
“In Christianity, Jesus is love and for the Moslems, they preach peace", he emphasized, adding that the "major thing that has kept Nigeria at a cross-roads is insincerity and sentiments on the part of leaders". This, he said, is threatening the very foundation of Nigeria.
For the most populous black nation in the world to take its rightful place in the global reckoning, the Clergyman said it is important that both leaders and followers come to terms with the realities on the ground and work out modalities that would give an equal sense of belongings to every Nigerian irrespective of religious, tribal or regional inclinations.
As a Nigerian, from a family of mixed religion and living in peace with one another, the Clergyman said he believes that the problems of Nigeria are not more than what can be resolved if the government embraces every Nigerian as one and ensure that whatever is meant for all is equitably shared.
Pastor PeteRock Sadiq told journalists that the annual event is to provide enabling environment for e Christians, especially in the 19 northern states and beyond to come together, glorify God and as well, pray for God’s intervention in the insecurity threatening the peace of the country.
NIGERIAN NEWSLEADER Correspondent reports that no fewer than eleven Pastors and Christian musicians from within and outside Nigeria participated in the 2021 Friday night, ‘Shout’ which took place at the Idris Legbo Kutigi international conference center, Minna, the Niger state capital. NNL.
