Kumuyi urges Christian, Muslim collaboration for nation’s growth

The General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Kumuyi, has called on Christians and Muslims in the country to ignore religious segregation and collaborate to change Nigeria for the better.

He stressed the need for the adherents of the two religions to see each other as people created by God who must take positive steps to lay a solid foundation for a better society.

He stated this at the inauguration ceremony of the Change Makers International Conference, in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Thursday.

The Change Makers Conference was inaugurated in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, last week.

Speaking through the Ondo State Overseer of the church, Pastor Jacob Asubiojo, the cleric said the conference was not just a gathering of like-minded individuals, but a meeting to show that we needed one another in setting goals and collectively achieving the desired vision.

“We must understand that this is a paradigm shift from what we, either as Christians, Muslims or other faith adherents had known.

“It is a true call to the purpose of God for mankind, beyond religiosity, denominations and ethnicity.

“This is an all-important and unusual call where we would not see ourselves either as Christians or as Muslims but as a people created by God that must take positive steps to lay a solid foundation for a better society and indeed a better world,” Kumuyi said.

The Deputy Governor, Mr Olayide Adelami, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr Ademola Falohun, said there was a need for collective efforts by Nigerians to create a conducive environment for all.

“Let’s unite, irrespective of our religion. This is for the development of this nation and we must speak with one voice and be united,” he said.

The Ondo State Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Pastor Joshua Opayinka, commended Kumuyi for the initiative, saying it would further promote love and unity among Nigerians.

“This move is good and we pray it succeeds. We should love our neighbours, it is a newborn idea and it will grow. The move comes from a high personality. The initiative would bring love and unity to our society,” he said.

The Chairman of the League of Imams in Ondo State, Alhaji Ahmed Aladesawe, represented by Alhaji Bashir Moshood, said Nigeria was facing social, economic and tribalism challenges today because “we are not united and we can only overcome these challenges if we are united and speak with one voice.

“Love your neighbour, regardless of your religious background. A complete believer must love their neighbours and love himself. Let’s be united, drop our tribal ethnic and religious biases to move the country forward and achieve the needed development.”