2027: Faith leaders must reject hate speech – Scholars

 

Religious scholars have urged faith leaders across Nigeria to promote tolerance, reject hate speech and foster peaceful coexistence to ensure violence-free elections in 2027.

 

The call was made on Friday at the 9th Interfaith Peace Conference and Award Presentation held in Bauchi.

 

The conference was organised by the Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace (IDFP) in collaboration with the International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID) and the Bauchi State Government.

 

The conference, themed “Non-Violent Elections: The Role of Faith and Traditional Leaders in Nigeria,” brought together religious, traditional and government leaders to discuss strategies for preventing election-related violence.

 

Presenting a paper, Dr Abdullahi Abubakar of the International Institute of Islamic Banking and Finance, Bayero University Kano, said elections could be lost, but lives lost could never be recovered.

According to him, the primary purpose of governance is protecting lives and property while promoting citizens’ welfare, stressing that anything threatening human life contradicts democratic principles and national development.

 

Abubakar said peaceful elections should be regarded not only as political or security achievements but also as moral responsibilities reflecting the values, character and collective conscience of every nation.

 

“Violence does not begin on the streets; it begins in the hearts, words and values of the people,” he said.

 

He identified poverty, injustice, hate speech, religious exploitation, misinformation, incitement and intolerance as major drivers of election violence, warning that such factors continued to threaten Nigeria’s democratic stability.

 

The scholar cautioned faith leaders against manipulating religious teachings to justify hatred, division or political exclusion, noting their enormous influence over followers who often regard their messages as divine guidance.

He urged religious leaders to verify information before sharing it, encourage dialogue, promote mutual understanding and cultivate compassion, saying they should serve as architects of peace within society.

 

According to Abubakar, transforming individual consciences would produce peaceful communities, credible elections and ultimately a more just, stable and prosperous nation founded on shared values and mutual respect.

 

Also, Rev. Fr. Zaka Ahuce of the Theological College of Northern Nigeria urged faith leaders to champion peace, tolerance and national unity as preparations for future elections gather momentum.

 

Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi also called on religious leaders to intensify efforts toward promoting peaceful coexistence and ensuring violence-free elections ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Represented by his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Yakubu Kunbala, the governor described the conference theme as timely, saying interfaith dialogue remained essential for promoting trust, harmony and national cohesion.

“We live in an ethnically and religiously diverse society.

 

”Therefore, we need to understand and respect our differences for social harmony, political stability and equitable prosperity,” Mohammed said.

“No meaningful development can take place where mutual mistrust and discord prevail.

”Peace remains the bedrock of harmony, justice and shared progress,” the governor added.

Mohammed said Islam and Christianity uphold the sanctity of human life and love for humanity, urging Nigerians to focus on shared values rather than differences that fuel division.

“When hunger strikes, it does not differentiate between Muslims and Christians.

”When poverty knocks, it does not check our creed. We must pay more attention to what unites us than what divides us,” he said.