The Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness, Muhammad Sanusi II, has revealed that he used his personal income to rebuild a church that was destroyed during religious unrest at Rogo local government area in Kano.
Sanusi II, who was speaking to a delegation of religious leaders said: “I renovated the said church to help avoid a situation where a Christian believer might feel offended and his religion disrespected”.
Emir Sanusi II, stated this during a oneday Inter-Religious and Community Conference organised by Kano State government with the theme: “Towards Strengthening Interfaith and Community Relations for Harmony, Peace and Sustainable Development, held at Coronation Hall, Government House, Kano, Kano State, yesterday.
The Kano emir urged the followers of the two major religions to respect each other’s religion to avoid future religious disharmony in the state and the country at large.
Meanwhile, the chief host of the occasion, Kano State governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje disclosed that research has shown that most of the religious conflicts experienced in the country were in one way or the other triggered by elite to divide the adherents of their respective religions.
He said Islam and Christianity enjoin followers to live in peace and preach peace as neither of the scriptures of the two religions preach violence.
Ganduje expressed optimism that the people of Nigeria will embrace each other irrespective of religious conviction, noting that his administration decided to convene the conference considering the fact that Kano is adjudged to be truly Nigeria’s state with cosmopolitan nature.
He charged the participants to practice what they have learnt from the conference.
Among participants at the conference were, Kano CAN chairman, Ransome Bello as well as other Christians and Muslims clerics.