Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo has said that religious gathering is important to building a peaceful and virile nation.
Oshiomhole said this on Saturday in Benin while declaring open the Annual Delegates Conference of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).
He said that such gatherings were important in building a peaceful, just society, whose citizens and leaders would be guided by the fear of God.
The governor said that this would ensure that policy choices were guided by how they impact on the people.
Oshiomhole said that people should be judged by their actions and not their religious persuasion.
He called on the media to always draw a distinction between religion and criminality.
According to him, ethnicity and prejudice should also not be a basis for identification of criminals, as such leads to unnecessary suspicion which also leads to heightened crisis.
“ We must re-emphasise the teaching of religion at all levels of education so that people can be worthy in both learning and character,’’ he said.
The governor also said that democracy must compel leaders to behave responsibly as well as deal with crisis of inequality by using the instrument of government to restore integrity in schools.
Oshiomhole said that this month, the state would employ islamic teachers to redress the gap between the teachings of both religions.
On the issue of dressing, he said that the state government “respects the right to dress in acceptable ways of any religion’’. (NAN)