By Murtala Issah
The Northern Regional Peace Council has cautioned religious leaders against using their pulpits to promote disunity and heighten tensions, especially as the region continues to enjoy relative peace and increased development.
The Council says faith leaders occupy a strategic position in shaping public opinion and influencing community behaviour, and must therefore, use their platforms responsibly to foster cohesion rather than division.
Speaking at the opening of an interfaith conference organised by the Council, member Alhaji Abdul Razak Saani underscored the critical role of religious authorities in sustaining the peace the Northern Region is currently experiencing. He noted that the prevailing stability has contributed to growing investor confidence and development interventions, making it imperative for all stakeholders to safeguard the gains made.
Alhaji Saani warned that inflammatory preaching, personal attacks and sectarian rhetoric—particularly during the holy month of Ramadan—could erode trust and reignite tensions. He urged clerics to remain mindful of their moral authority and to promote messages of tolerance, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence.
The interfaith conference, which brought together Islamic and Christian leaders as well as other faith-based actors, sought to deepen dialogue, strengthen collaboration, and build resilience against extremist narratives. Participants examined emerging threats to social harmony, including misinformation and provocative religious commentary.
Analysts at the forum observed that in multi-religious settings such as the Northern Region, faith leaders often serve as first responders in times of crisis. Their ability to calm tensions or inflame passions places a heavy responsibility on them to act as peace ambassadors.
Participants commended the Peace Council for the initiative, describing it as timely and proactive. They pledged to intensify education within their congregations on peaceful coexistence and to avoid sermons that target individuals or groups.
The conference forms part of broader efforts by the Northern Regional Peace Council to institutionalise interfaith engagement as a preventive tool against conflict.
