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USING DIVERSITY AS A TOOL FOR RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE
By Philip Eplong

The story of man going by the story of creation is from God. And at creation, God gave man the freedom of choice. This explains the differences in religious beliefs across the world. It is important to note that most if not all religions acknowledge the existence and serve an all important powerful God.
With such belief, it is expected that the world would be a better place to live in but that is not the case as some have deployed religion as a tool for personal or group interest. 
This should not be the case as most religions especially, christianity and Islam both preach love, tolerance,peaceful coexistence and forgiveness among adherents and none believers. 
It is therefore regrettable that many countries and societies have fallen victim of religious extremism which have left deep scars on humanity. Plateau has had an unfortunate brush with religious intolerance. 
However there have and still exist deliberate actions by state and non state actors to restore humanity to the core values of love,peace ,tolerance as preached by most religions. 
Some religious events that usually bring humanity together include Christmas and Sallah among the many religious festivals that exist.
Here in Plateau State, the Plateau Radio Television Corporation has blazed the trail in with its annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony which attracts people of all faiths within and beyond Plateau State. 
Taking a cue from the peace initiative of Plateau State Governor and Chairman Northern Governors Forum Simon Lalong ,Management Committee Chairman of Jos North Local Government Shehu Bala Usman,a Muslim in 2019 hosted the first Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony at the Council Secretariat in Jos. 
This is in his acknowledgement of the religious and ethnic diversity of the city capital which is cosmopolitan and in the quest for the promotion of religious tolerance. 
The Chairman has demonstrated similar gesture in to the Muslim community in the area and has been supportive to Christian and Muslim groups in the local Government. 
In Consolidating on religious tolerance, the Jos North Management Committee Chairman set up a Committee for the 2020 Tree Lighting ceremony. 
The outcome is the expansion of the Tree lighting in Jos North to include Carol and nine lessons as part of this year's Tree Lighting of Jos North Local Government put together by its management committee. 
The lesson here is that we can better profess our religion with how we treat ,accept, accommodate and tolerate others other than those of our faith. 
Celebrating with people of other faiths other than yours demonstrate our shared humanity as creation of God.
As the the yuletide season gets underway, Nigerians must see the urgent need for religious tolerance and harmony despite the diversity of the country. 
Jos North Local Government Management Committee Chairman Shehu Bala Usman is showing a clear example in religious tolerance and leadership. 
That way ,we can build a peaceful and prosperous nation. 

Philip Eplong 
Senior Information Officer, 
Jos North Local Government.
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