by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
The Inter-Faith Mediation Group Plateau State an Affiliation if IMC Kaduna has called on Inter-Faith Youths of Jos North and South Local Government Areas to always seek dialogue as a last resort, rather than violence.
They also called on religious leaders and faith-based organizations to help in sensitizing the youths and members of the public with information on government policies, in order to avoid the misconception and misinterpretation of viable projects in the state.
The group’s Co-Chairman, Evang. Ringsum J. John, made the call on Saturday after a one-day and engagement dialogue with the Inter-Faith Youths from Jos South and Jos North on the ‘Role of Inter-Faith Youths on Government and Developments in Plateau State.’
He stated that, “It is also important for religious leaders to teach their subjects the truth, and should also avoid politicizing good government policies as that will retard our progress in the State.”
He called on government, as a matter of urgency, to engage all religious leaders and faith-based organizations to synergies towards taking government policies beyond media broadcasting alone, but rather to take it down to Churches and Mosques for easy assimilation of government programmes. This will help a lot.”
According to him, “In the course of government regulating economic and social relations among its citizens, conflict of interest is inevitable; and also in the enforcement of laws, rights and the monitoring to ensure citizens are law-abiding. Some misinterpreted, misunderstood and reactionary.”
While recalling what happened on Sallah day in BuKuru, Evang. Ringsum John said, “As Inter-Faith Mediation Group, we found this indeed regrettable and condemnable and unacceptable, especially in a 21st Century where dialogue and cross-fertilization of ideas between government and public can solve their problems, rather than embarking on violent destructions of properties in their millions.”
The Co-Chair further urged government to embark on what he termed as a “deliberate and purposeful youths empowerment,” adding, “because it is said that, ‘an idle mind is the devil’s workshop,’ while NDLE should step upon its fight against illicit substances and drug abuse among the youths; and parents should also caution their children against violence, because it causes huge destructions.”
He further called on government to look into the areas of provision of health services, foodstuffs, transportation and alternative options to local marketers, “and consider the hardship people are facing, especially the poor and the aged citizens, which we know it is nationwide.”
Also speaking, a prominent figure, Chungyang Yakubu Bagings, who is former Coordinator of COCIN Aids Awareness and Care Programme (CAAP) COCIN Headquarters Jos, National Trainer/Activist Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGB) Master Trainer Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health, asserted thus: “We must take a bold step to protect our children, who had not started the drugs or abuse. They also should be protected by teaching them the culture.”
He expressed concern where young girls, both Christians and Muslims, are taking drugs these days, adding, “When you look at our communities, it’s scaring and a thing of concern.”
Chungyang Bagings observed that, “Those things that take people to do all this, especially the youths, some are friends’ influence, some poverty; some are school dropout and poor communication from parents.
“The media, the community and Church leaders have a role to play to help create awareness,” he said, stressing that “The child that has started talking drugs should be taken to a place where he can get help,” and called on all to join hands together and fight it; “if not, the problem will not be solved.”
Also speaking, Abdullateef Abdullmalek said, “Peace cannot be solved from outside; it must be solved within ourselves. Nobody chooses his religion, but we found ourselves in it. Therefore, we must respect each other’s religion and respect our differences and respect each other; and must make sure we preach peace.
“As Inter-Faith leaders, we must have our differences as a people; but we cannot make peace because we suspect each other without verifying information.”
According to him, “There is the need for religious and community leaders and parents to preach on drugs abuse against youths. Education is important and there is need to equip them with education.”