Rafsanjani stated this in an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday.

According to him, communities and religious leaders who ought to uphold justice and serve as beacons of truth in society have become ‘beggars’ of political favour.

He said, “In the past, we all knew how our grandparents stood for the truth. They would face a governor, a minister, a local government chairman, a director, or a president and tell him the truth, not in an abusive way but in a very corrective way.

“Now tell me, who do you see speaking the truth to our leaders, whether privately or openly? We hardly see those things happening and that is why now you will see that religious leaders have practically become (with due respect) beggars.

“A governor will call them and they will rush to come to him. In the past, a governor would have to come to community leaders or religious leaders in whatever capacity they found themselves. Now they are running after the government house all the time or running to come to the villa,” he said.

“I think that has grossly undermined the integrity and capacity they are supposed to have and also caution leaders when they are doing wrong things.”

Rafsanjani said Nigerian elites appeared to have lost their bearing in their fight for justice, adding that materialism has taken over many people’s consciences and weakened the integrity of the entire system.

The human rights activist said, rather than condemning the actions of the political elites, religious leaders have kept mute and asked their people to pray for their oppressors.

Rafsanjani said, “Most people that are in the position to speak the truth, you tell them they are not speaking the truth or they are simply being quiet.

“This is a major challenge and you can look at it from different stakeholders in Nigeria. Religious leaders who are supposed to tell the truth sometimes just decide to keep quiet and ask their followers to pray for oppressors. Community leaders are also in the same shoes.”

Rafsanjani said Nigeria will suffer if every Nigerian remains silent for fear of not being appointed to public office.

“If every Nigerian now will have to keep quiet because he or she is afraid that they will not give him an appointment, money, or table, then we are in trouble.

“That is the reason why, in particular, judges are given this special consideration of respect and regard: they are supposed to play justice; they are not supposed to compromise and be doing all these kind of funny things that we are seeing,  delivering judgements through Zoom.”

Rafsanjani, however, urged the media and civil society to continue standing up for the truth and advocating for change.

“Civil society has a responsibility to promote communication and mutual understanding between the government and intergovernmental organizations in order to support efficient government operations,” he said.

The post Religious leaders now beggars to political leaders – CISLAC chief, Rafsanjani appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

The governor on Wednesday also directed all civil servants and other government workers in the State to proceed on Christmas and New Year holiday from Thursday, December 24.

According to the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kunle Somorin, the directives were issued on Wednesday after a meeting between the state government and religious leaders from the League of Imams and the Christian Association of Nigeria as well as community leaders as part of the measures and guidelines for public health as the state prepares for a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Governor directed that all Schools in the State are to remain closed until January 18, 2021, while all bars, nightclubs, pubs and event centres, recreational centres in the state have also been closed down indefinitely.

The Governor further directed that the all markets are to open strictly between 8am and 4pm while maintaining social distancing and observing all COVID-19 protocols, including the use of face mask, provision of hand sanitizer and/or hand-washing equipment at every strategic point within their malls, shops, business premises etc.

Gov Abiodun further directed that religious and worship centres should not exceed 50 per cent of their capacity. All services must also be in compliance with all COVID-19 protocols.

In order to stem, the spread of the second wave of the disease, Gov. Abiodun advised that “there should be no gatherings of more than 50 people at any event or ceremonies, such as conferences, congresses, office events, concerts, seminars, sporting activities, cross-over nights, end of year parties, weddings, naming, birthdays, anniversaries, street carnivals, etc until further notice”.

He also called on motorcycle (okada), tricycle, bus, car, taxi and other transport operators to not to carry passengers above 50 percent of their capacity, in compliance with social distancing rules.

While urging citizens to celebrate in moderation, Gov. Abiodun wished the people a Merry Christmas and prosperous 2021, saying they should take personal responsibilities and stay within their residences and not embark on travels within and outside the State to ensure they neither transmit nor contract the virus.

For religious centres, the League of Imams and the Christian leaders adopted the earlier positions taken in the wake of COVID-19 earlier in the year such as:

1. All worship activities must be observed by not more than 50 percent of capacity

2. All congregants must wear their face masks appropriately (that is, No facemask, No entry)

3. There should be reliable sources of running water

4. Worship centres should be adequately cleaned and disinfected before and after services

5. Household bleach solution should be adequately prepared for disinfectations

6. There should be adequate provision and supervision of multiple Veronica Buckets for handwashing (fully automated handwashing machines are preferable)

7. There should be provision of alcohol-based sanitiser which must be used before and at intervals of every 20 minutes as well as after service

8. Worship centre should provide adequate toilet facilities with water

9. It is paramount for Muslims to perform ablution at home and go to Mosque with their personal praying mats

10. Qualified Medical Practitioners or trained personnels should check the temperature of worshippers with infrared thermometer before allowing them to enter worship centres

11..There should be adequate medical support for sick persons

12. All services on Friday/Sunday and other week days must adhere strictly to COVID-19 Guidelines

13. There should be pre-designated standing position/sitting points to ensure not less than 2 meter distancing

14. The duration of religious services should not be more than one hour. In addition, same duration must be observed at intervals, where there are multiple services

15. The use of Air-conditioners should be discouraged while worship centres should be well ventilated with the use of fans

16. There should not be any handshake/hugs by worshippers

17. Proper awareness of the susceptibility of the aged and people with signs of ill-health should be adequately created among worshippers at all times

18. Constant sensitisation of COVID-19 and its dangers should be included in sermon and goodwill messages

19. Provision of isolation rooms is mandatory in all worship centres or facilities

20. Religious services and events should be recorded with digital camera for record purposes

21. Government will not hesitate to impose severe sanctions (including, but not limited to lockdown) on any Worship Centre that fails to comply with the laid down guidelines

22. No social gathering should exceed 50 people while 2 meters social distancing must be observed in such gatherings

23. Disposable elements should be used during Holy Communion instead of sharing cups

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Tomori, who is the Chairman, Expert Review Committee on COVID-19, also advised religious leaders to obey government directives aimed at guaranteeing public health safety.

He stated this on Wednesday while speaking on a PUNCH Online interview programme, The Roundtable.

Tomori said, “At the beginning, the government tried to speak with religious leaders but the problem we have in this country is that we are not speaking with one voice – the Federal will say one thing and states will say another thing.

“In the beginning, when the federal said let the churches be closed, some states said, no, we are going to open the mosques. We neither spoke with one voice in the country and that is why it has been difficult to make any tangible decision.

“Some of our religious leaders said the government has no right to determine who comes to their churches but even our Lord Jesus Christ said, ‘Give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s. Covid control is in the hands of the government. Give to the government and follow their control.

“The government itself is so scared of these religious leaders, very scared because of the large number of people who are religious in the country.”

The health expert, who advised Nigerians to avoid large gatherings during the Christmas and New Year celebrations, also urged citizens to observe all preventive protocols recommended by health authorities and the government.

“If I sit down in my room and pray to God, He will hear me because He is Omnipresent and Omnipotent. Why then should I deliberately go into the danger zone and say, ‘God, come and take care of me’? Stay in your house, He (God) will hear you. Why do you have to go out on December 31st and cross over to Covid? Stay in your house,” Tomori stated.

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Mohammed gave the warning during a forum organised by NAN on Monday.

The protests, which have lasted for 12 days, have received international endorsement and support.

Although Mohammed Adamu, inspector-general of police, disbanded the special anti-robbery squad (SARS) which triggered the protests, demonstrations are still ongoing in different parts of the country.

On Monday, some suspected hoodlums broke into Oko prison located on Benin-Sapele road centre in Benin, Edo state capital, setting several inmates free.

Hours later, the Ugbekun police station in Benin, was also set ablaze. Several cases of violence have also been reported across the country.

Mohammed said given the turn of events, it would amount to anarchy if leaders nudge on the youth to continue with the protests.

He added that he was disappointed that some leaders were encouraging youths to remain on the streets even after government has promised to meet their demands.

“Leaders should stop instigating the protests because that could lead to anarchy,” adding that “The protests are turning violent, unfortunately many of our leaders are fallen short of expectation.

“Rather than advise these youths, they have been instigating them and this is very disappointing. All leaders, opinion, religious, political, including traditional rulers, should be very careful in their interventions.

“They have the right to intervene and a lot of them have huge followership, but they should not incite; they should proffer solution not to complicate the matter on ground.

“They should emphasise that the protest is genuine and that the government has listened. They should let the youths know that everything the government has promised will be fulfilled.”

Mohammed said that the original conveners of #EndSARS had lost control of it while hoodlums and people with ulterior motive to destabilise the country had taken over the protest.

“We are talking of the very existence of the country because some people are using the genuine protest to seek an end to democracy and representative government,” he said.

“We are talking of a protest that has descended into orgy of violence, looting, killing and attempted assassination of a state governor.

“A protest that led to hoodlums taking over the whole city of Benin, releasing inmates and setting Police stations ablaze. This is not what any leader should support or instigate the youths to continue with.”

The minister appealed to the leadership of #EndSARS to put forward their demands and approach the governors whom he said are willing to dialogue with them.+

The post #EndSARS: Stop inciting the youth, Lai warns religious leaders appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

In a message to mark the 2020 ‘International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief’, celebrated on August 22, Obi charged leaders at all levels of governance, political and religious, to sincerely strive for peaceful co-existence among all the religious groups in Nigeria.

He lamented the grievous pain religious intolerance has inflicted on Nigeria’s unity. Obi stated that upholding the right to freedom of religion, worship or expression and the right to peaceful assembly, were critical in the fight against all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief.

“Our national unity is not only threatened, but seriously weighed down by religious intolerance visibly existent in our dear country. Nigeria’s constitution obviously allows the freedom of religion and worship and the right to peaceful assembly. We must take urgent steps to sincerely breakdown the barriers dividing the many religious groups in Nigeria and ensure that we all live together peacefully as one,” Obi said.

Obi decried the different religious-based violent acts that had plagued different parts of the country, with their attendant security threats. He lamented that many lives have been lost and properties have been destroyed due to religious violence. He warned that continual repetition of such had serious negative economic implications on the nation.

“Religious violence goes with serious negative economic consequences. Aside ushering in a high level of insecurity, it causes a drop in the inflow of foreign direct investment while capital flight increases sporadically. We as a people must therefore learn to live in respect for other people’s religious beliefs,” he said.

The post Religious intolerance threat to national unity – Obi appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

The President gave the reassurance when he hosted traditional rulers and religious leaders from across the country to breaking of Ramadan fast at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He also vowed that he would never allow political office holders or public servants entrusted with the nation’s resources to abuse such trust by way of stealing or mismanagement of the resources.

He maintained that the nation’s resources were meant to uplift the quality of life of the citizens and not to be diverted to private pockets by selfish individuals or groups.

“This country is endowed by God with material and human resources. We are going to work very hard to explore it.

“We are holding public trust and knowingly we will not abuse it and we will not allow anybody to abuse it,’’ he said.

He charged the traditional and religious leaders to continue to educate and enlighten their followers on the importance of keeping public trust, saying that his administration would continue to promote the virtues of honesty, trust and accountability for the general good of the society.

While thanking the traditional and religious leaders for their support and understanding, the President urged them not to relent in promoting the virtues of peaceful co-existence and brotherliness among the citizens across the country.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II) and Amb. Shehu Galadanchi, who spoke on behalf of traditional rulers and the religious leaders respectively, thanked President Buhari for inviting them for the “Iftar’’.

They also lauded his administration’s socio-economic policies and programmes aimed at transforming the nation’s economy and subsequently enhancing the standard of living of the people.

The post Buhari breaks fast with traditional, religious leaders at Aso Rock appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

Speaking at an audience with Ecuador’s new Ambassador to Nigeria, Leopoldo Rovayo Verdesoto, President Buhari noted that a lot had already been done to properly expose Boko Haram as a ruthless, destructive and misguided terrorist group.

“What we have succeeded in doing is to separate terrorism from religion. The initial attraction for recruitments was religion. But now, people cannot relate with their relevance anymore and they are only associated with the destruction of lives and properties.

“If your life does not mean anything to you, other peoples’ lives will not mean anything to you as well. And people are beginning to see that Boko Haram is just about destruction and nothing else,” the President said.

President Buhari also told the new ambassador, who was at the Presidential Villa to present his letter of credence, that his administration will continue to prioritize diversification and other measures to help the Nigerian economy withstand the shock of falling crude oil prices.

The President also received the letters of credence of the new Ambassador of Zambia, Dr. Solomon Jere and the new Ambassador of Colombia, Ms Claudia Turbay Quintereo.

He wished all three new ambassadors successful tenures in Nigeria.

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