Hundred of Muslims yesterday fed their Christian counterparts in Kaduna to commemorate this year’s Easter.
Performing the occasion, the leader of the Muslim Youths, Muhammad Shuaibu expressed gratitude to the Christian brothers, calling on international media organisations to desist from reports capable of frustrating? efforts at returning lasting security and peaceful co-existence between the two major religions.
?“We also want to join our Christian brothers to condemn any form of violence and to advice whoever is involved to have a rethink.
“In addition, we want to use this forum to enlighten the youths to understand the difference between politics and religion,” he said.
Also speaking at the occasion, the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Youths Wing, Obadia Haruna said that the quest for peace is non-negotiable, adding that “we must learn to leave in peace with one another irrespective of our faith.
He stated that more than 70 percent of the victims of Easter Sunday bombing are non-Christians, even as he called on Nigerians to inculcate the spirit of forgiveness.
“We are gathered today to commemorate and to celebrate Easter with our Muslim brothers and to engage in sober reflection on what we have done against each other in the past.? Our major concern is looking at all areas that would bring back lasting peace and harmonious co-existence between Muslim and Christians.
“We, the Christian youths and our Muslim brothers condemn the act of bombing and any form of terrorism in strong term. It can never be a way by which grievances can be resolved.
“Conflicts can never be resolved with violence; it is only dialogue that will bring peaceful resolution of our differences.? Without peace, no meaningful development can be achieved.
“We are therefore calling on all peace-loving Nigerians and those who feel there is injustice in the country to embrace dialogue.
“In the north, who will stand up today and say stop the violence, like the Sardauna of Sokoto and Joseph Tarka both of blessed memory? None. So it means that it is we the youths that will take the bull by the horn and say no to violence and yes to peace,’ the CAN Youth Chairman stressed.
Speaker after speaker at the occasion advised youths in the country to resist the temptation of been used by politicians to cause confusion in the country.
The Christian youths had last month hosted dozens of Muslims to a breaking of lent fast at the headquarters of the Christian Association of Nigerian (CAN) in Kaduna and also provided water to their Muslim brothers to conduct their Magrib (night) prayers right inside the premises of the CAN.