Ewenla Calls for Religious Tolerance, Says Africans Must Stop Fighting Over Religion

…Urges Nigerians to respect diverse beliefs and reject religious hatred, violence and discrimination

Dr. Adedipe Dauda Ewenla, Akinjagunla Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, has called on Africans, particularly Nigerians, to rethink the way religious differences are used to create division, discrimination and conflict across the continent.

Ewenla made the call in a statement titled, “When Are We Going to Wise Up as Africans?”, in which he argued that the cooperation that exists between countries and people of different religious backgrounds should encourage Africans to reconsider the assumption that religious differences must inevitably lead to hostility.

He cited the relationship between Saudi Arabia and the United States as an example, noting that while Saudi Arabia is predominantly Muslim and the United States predominantly Christian, both countries have maintained strategic relations, including cooperation on security and military matters.

He also referenced conflicts and tensions involving predominantly Muslim countries, including Yemen and Saudi Arabia, to argue that sharing the same religion does not necessarily prevent political or military disputes.

According to him, religious differences should not be used as justification for hatred, violence or discrimination.

He questioned the practice of condemning people solely on the basis of their religious beliefs, arguing that people of different faiths are capable of cooperating for political, economic, security and other interests.

Ewenla said Africans should learn to respect Muslims without necessarily being Muslims, Christians without necessarily being Christians, traditional worshippers and people who do not subscribe to organised religion.

He said religious beliefs should remain matters of personal conviction and should not become instruments for forcing beliefs on others.

He further called for greater appreciation of African indigenous identity, culture, history and values, while urging people to respect the religious choices of others.

The Akinjagunla Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland said religion could serve as a source of faith, morality, spirituality and community, but should not become an excuse for hatred, intolerance or violence.

Ewenla maintained that the future of Africa should be built on peace, knowledge, tolerance, justice, human dignity, development and mutual respect rather than religious hatred or superiority.

He urged Africans to question what they had been taught without hatred, respect people regardless of their religious affiliations and avoid killing or discriminating against others in the name of God.

“Eledumare created humanity before humanity created religions,” he declared.