Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has advised Muslims across the country to promote and spread love among fellow Nigerians in order to consolidate the nation’s unity.
Abubakar, in a message to mark the Eid-el-Kabir celebration issued by his media office on Monday in Abuja, said that religion should be used as a means to advance love among the people.
He explained that diversity was not the cause of Nigeria’s problems but the attitude of citizens toward one another.
“The common interests that unite Nigerians are by far stronger than those petty factors that divide us,” Abubakar said, adding that diversity could be used to advantage.
He said that intolerance, extremism and bigotry, if unchecked, could threaten peace and unity in any country while peace and unity are the greatest assets that should not be taken for granted by Nigerians.
According to him, interfaith dialogue will not go far enough if bigotry was allowed to defeat human reason and wisdom.
The former Vice President noted that all religions preach love of mankind, and therefore, urged Muslims to promote the beauty of their faith through positive personal conduct.
He said that societies founded on hate and bigotry were always exposed to conflicts, adding these negative emotions should only be defeated by the power of love.
While wishing Muslims successful Sallah celebration, Abubakar advised the faithful to remain vigilant against the influence of violent extremism which had been used by misguided elements to portray Islam in bad light.(NAN)
