Leadership
By Solomon Asowata
Lagos, Aug. 1, 2018 (NAN) A group, Legacy Initiative International (LII) on Wednesday urged religious leaders to unite for the common purpose of promoting credible leadership in Nigeria.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Dr Bolaji Akinyemi, President LII, made the call while briefing newsmen in Lagos.
LLI, according to Akinyemi, is a coalition of several groups with ideological similarities and shared interest of effecting the desired expectations of Nigerians for credible leadership.
He said that the coalition is a platform of interface with communities, key opinion leaders, traditional and spiritual leaders and the citizenry at large on the need to cross dividing lines and forge agreement towards nation building.
“LII is much concerned about the high spate of insecurity and lawlessness in the nation, which has led to wanton bloodletting and huge numbers of internally displaced persons,” Akinyemi said.
He said that over the years, attempts had been made to stop the carnage of senseless killings in the nation, but the mutual mistrust among the adherents of the two major faiths in the country remained a clog in the wheel of achievement of much result.
Akinyemi said it was, however, evident that those carrying out the dastardly acts were not true adherents of both faiths and were only an insignificant microcosm of the Nigerian population.
He urged the religious leaders to work together to make the nation a better place.
Also speaking, Chief Kenny Martins, the Patron of the group, said religious and traditional rulers had key roles to play in making Nigeria a dream country for generations yet unborn.
Martins said: “We call on them to turn their attention with the same grace and vigour to the election process in Nigeria in a coordinated effort by the leaders of the two faith groups in Nigeria, the Christians and the Muslims.
“We believe that if our religious leaders can quickly overcome their interdenominational and interfaith differences, they will emerge as the most potent force for the choice of political leaders in our country,” he said.
According to him, the candidate with support from such leaders will not need to resort to moneybag politics, thereby making him or her more accountable to the electorate.
He advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and politicians to play by the rules in the 2019 General Elections, stressing that the eyes of the whole world were now on Nigeria. (NAN)
ASO/SOA
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Edited by Oluwole Sogunle