Aareonakakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Adams, has reiterated the need for religious tolerance for peace and tranquility to reign in Nigeria, saying that any country that upholds religious fanatism would be designated a terrorist state and thrown into war if not well managed.
Iba Adams made the call at the weekend, while speaking at the Year 2024 edition of Annual Aareonakakanfo Christmas Carol Service and Ninth Lessons, the 7th edition organised by the office of the Aareonakakanfo.
The annual event, which held at Oodua House, Off Toyin Street, Ikeja, Lagos, and attended by Christian leaders from different denominations, including Bishop Kayode Williams of Christ Vessels of Grace Church Inc., Pastor Ololade David, Pastor John Agboola, Prophet Peter Oyebola and Apostle Gbenga Ogundipe.
Others were wife of the Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land, Ayinba Ayomide Adams,Pastor Timothy Fasoyin, Elder Apostle Akin Owolabi, Pastor Emmanuel Ayeni, Deacon Adebayo Israel Obatungashe, Alagba Sina Loremikan, Pastor Iyabo Obasa, among others.
The Yoruba generalissimo, who said the event was organized to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, as it is done all over the world, recalling his growing up when people with different religious backgrounds celebrated with one another without discriminations, maintained that there was always the need for religious tolerance in Nigeria, without which there would be no peace and tranquility.
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According to him, religion is a fragile thing to life, saying that proper approach needed to be applied to manage it through “tolerance to the issue, whether you are a Muslim, a Christian or a traditional believer.”
Iba Adams insisted that God is the Creator of all religions as well as the Creator of languages and cultures, urging that people should stop having a mindset that anybody that practises other religion outside his or hers is a pagan.
“We always need religious tolerance. Without religious tolerance, there is no way Nigeria can have peace and tranquility, without religious tolerance, Nigeria will be designated as a terrorist state.
“Any country that upholds fanaticism will be so designated and that can lead to war if not well managed. Religion is a fragile thing to life and we have to be careful the way we manage it, and the only way we can manage it is to be tolerant to other religions,whether you are Muslim, Christian or traditional believer. We have to be tolerant.
“God is the Creator of all religions, God is the Creator of all languages and cultures. And definitely, you should not have a mindset that anybody that practises other religion outside yours is a pagan,” he said.
The Yoruba generalissimo, therefore, called on religious leaders in the country to shun fanaticism, saying that God was always ready to reward good deeds.
Iba Adams, who read Mark 10: 13-16, being the 3rd Lesson at the event, expressed his great appreciation to the men of God and other dignitaries in attendance for not discriminating to be part of the occasion, adding that such demonstration of love for Jesus Christ on the occasion of his birthday was good and what he thought could be done in Yoruba land.
“What we have come to do here today is Christmas carol. This is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, and it is done all over the world. It is celebrated worldwide and quite popular, it is a celebration of joy.
“I thank men of God that are here present at the occasion for not discriminating to be part of the event. That’s what I think we could do in Yoruba land, fanaticism is not good. It’s Jesus Christ you came to honour,” he said.
Also speaking, Bishop Williams of Christ Vessels of Grace Church Inc., urged every Nigerian to join hands to salvage the country from the present state of affairs, but quickly declared that Nigeria would march to “greatness beginning from 2025 and the world would come to know about it.”
“All of us must join hands together, we must salvage this country. Nigeria will be great, beginning from 2025 and the world would come to know about it,” he said.
Bishop Williams, however, prayed that God would erase the fears in the minds of Nigerians about the country, just as he also prayed that God should ensure that those planning to put the country in problem would fail woefully, while Nigeria would remain united and strong under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Apart from the Aareonakakanfo Chiefs in Council, and members of the OPC National Executive Council
and National Coordinating Council, others in attendance include different churches choristers.
The event featured Carol songs with Christ Vessel of Grace Church coming first, followed by the Beulah International which came second while the C and S Church from Ikorodu came third.
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