Our diversity remains our strength – Kaduna gov
July 26, 2026 6:08 pm
File: Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani.
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, on Sunday urged Nigerians, particularly residents of the state, not to allow political, religious or ethnic differences to undermine the prevailing peace in Kaduna ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The governor made the appeal at the 2026 Friends Day Worship Service organised by the ECWA Gospel Church, Lemu Road, Tudun Nupawa, Kaduna, where Muslims and Christians joined in worship alongside traditional rulers and community leaders.
Represented by the Acting Director of Christian Matters, Kaduna State Bureau of Interfaith, Mr Gabriel Joseph Shemang, Sani said his administration would continue to support initiatives that promote religious tolerance, unity and peaceful coexistence.
He described the annual Friends Day celebration as a demonstration of the values of mutual respect, understanding and unity in diversity.
He said, “This event is marked by an atmosphere of reflection and mutual respect, underscoring the need to build bridges of trust and understanding amid our diversity, which remains our strength.”
The governor urged religious leaders across the state to sustain the message of peace and continue fostering harmonious relationships among adherents of different faiths.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening interfaith dialogue and supporting programmes that encourage peaceful coexistence across Kaduna State.
In his welcome address, the Senior Pastor of ECWA Gospel Church, Rev. Joshua Anyam, cautioned politicians against turning places of worship into campaign grounds, insisting that the church would remain neutral despite increasing political activities ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Our Friends Day is not organised as a political campaign platform, and we do not expect anyone to use it as such. The Church is non-partisan,” he said.
Anyam explained that the annual programme was instituted to promote friendship, unity and mutual understanding among people of different religious and ethnic backgrounds.
Quoting Saudat Muhammad, described as the first Muslim student to graduate from Our Lady of Hope College, Yarkasuwa, Class of 2026, the cleric said, “Unity in diversity does not mean everyone becomes the same. It means choosing to stand together while respecting our differences.”
He warned against individuals who exploit religion, ethnicity and politics to create division and conflict.
“There are people whose stock-in-trade is creating division, confusion and conflict. Some religious, traditional and political leaders use our diversity, which should be our strength, as an instrument of division for selfish interests. We must be wary of them,” he said.
The cleric also lamented the country’s security challenges, economic hardship and political uncertainty, saying many Nigerians were living in fear and despair.
While acknowledging the efforts of the Federal Government and security agencies in tackling insecurity, Anyam said more needed to be done to restore confidence and guarantee lasting peace.
He noted that many Nigerians remained in captivity in the hands of terrorists, kidnappers and bandits, stressing that insecurity does not discriminate on the basis of religion or ethnicity.
“We must unite against violence and criminality. Those responsible for these crimes, including their sponsors and collaborators, must be brought to justice,” he added.
Delivering the sermon, the guest preacher, the Most Rev. Josiah Idowu-Fearon, urged Nigerians to emulate God’s unconditional love, saying it transcends religious, ethnic and social differences.
Preaching from John 3:16, he called on worshippers to deepen their understanding of God’s purpose for humanity and build relationships founded on love, mutual respect and understanding.
In separate goodwill messages, the Chairman of Kaduna South Local Government Area, Rayyan Hussaini; the member representing Kaduna South Federal Constituency, Amos Gwamna Magaji; elder statesman, Alhaji Shehu Mahdi; and the Sarki Dutse all stressed that lasting development could only be achieved in an atmosphere of peace, unity and religious harmony.
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