From Christiana Gokyo, Jos
The Inter-Faith Mediation Group Plateau State an Affiliation if IMC Kaduna has call on Inter-Faith Youths of Jos North and South Local Governmet Area to always results to dialogue rather than violence.
They also called on religion leaders and faith base organization to help sensitize the Youths and members of the public with information of government policy to avoid the misconception and misinterpretation of viable projects in the state.
The Co-Chairman Evang.Ringsum J. John made the call on Saturday after the one day and engagement dialogue with the Inter-Faith Youths from Jos South and Jos North on the ‘Role if Inter-Faith Youths on Government and Development 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 governtment policy as that will retard our progress in the State.
While calling on government as a matter of urgency to engage all religions leaders and faith base organization to synergies towards taking the government policy 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 it’s citizens, conflict of interest is inevitable,and also in the enforcement of laws, right and the monitoring to ensure citizens a law a biding, some misinterpreted, misunderstood and reactionary.
While recalling what happened on Sallah day in BuKuru,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 governtment and public can solve their problems,rather than embarking on violent destructions of properties in their millions.
Evang.Ringsum John further urged government to embarked on a deliberate and purposeful youths empowerment because it is said that,’an idle mind is the devil worship,” while NDLE should step upon it fight against illicit substances and drug abuse among the youth and parents should also caution their children against violence, because it couses huge destruction.
He further called on government to look into the areas of provision of health services, foodstuffs, transportation and an 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.
The former Coordinator 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, Chungyang Yakubu Bagings says we most take a bolt step to protect our children who had not started the drugs or abuse,, lso should be protectedby teaching them the culture.
He expressed concerned where young girls both Christian and Muslim girls taking drugs this days, adding when you look at our communities is scaring and thing of concern.
While observing 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.
According to him,the media,the community and Church leaders has a role to play to help create awareness, stressing that the child that has started talking drugs should be taken to a place where he can get help.
Mr Chungyang call on all to join hands together and fight it,if not the problem will not be solved.
Also speaking Abdullateef Abdullmalek said, peace can not be solved from outside,it must be solved within ourselves, nobody choses his religion but we found ourselves in it.
Therefore we must respect each other 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 suspected 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 need to equip them with education.
