By Wole Mosadomi
Niger State Governor, Muhammed Umaru Bago, has called on all Nigerians to come together and wage a total war against terrorism and all other forms of violence to move the country forward.
Governor Bago, who was delivering a keynote address during the celebration of the 2026 International Day of Peaceful Coexistence, said we should not allow culture and religion to divide us and that we should collectively face all the challenges facing the country.
Organised by the Global Peace Foundation with the theme “Promoting Tolerance, Inclusion, Understanding and Solidarity”, the Governor commended the Foundation for organising the ceremony.
The Governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Home Land Security, Barrister Maurice Bello Magaji said, “preaching peaceful co-existence is very important and the Forum is an opportunity to reach out to the religious leaders, community heads, opinion leaders as well as leaders of thoughts to create room for listening to each other, learn what other faiths stands for and what other culture stands for as well.
“As a government, we will make sure that we collaborate with Inter-Faith foundations, which we believe will go a long way to make a positive impact, most especially at the community level.
“The Global Peace Foundation initiative to organize the forum is timely, considering the situation the country finds itself in, and I appeal to the citizens to love one another in respect of culture and religious differences to bring peace back to the country..
“As people who want to live in peace, let’s remember a very important thing that we all agreed across all faiths that there is only one God who knows why he has created us and made different faiths possible, the Governor remarked.
Earlier in his remarks, Reverend John Joseph Hayab, the Country Director, Global Peace Foundation, and Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), in the 19 Northern states and FCT, explained that the theme of the 2026 celebration speaks directly to the moment the country finds itself.
Reverend John Joseph Hayab declared, “Peaceful co-existence is not passive, it demands deliberate efforts, it requires faith leaders who preach tolerance, traditional rulers who uphold justice, women who are empowered as peace builders in their homes and communities, youth who reject violence as a means of expression and government institutions that prioritize dialogue alongside security responses.
“Despite our diverse religious, ethnicities and cultures, we belong to one shared human family, descended from a common origin, and our differences should never divide our humanity, but rather enrich it,” the Country Director declared.
Reverend Hayab said, through dialogue, syndicate discussions, and collective reflection, the foundation aims to identify practical strategies that strengthen community resilience and inform policies that promote lasting peace and development, adding that the event will also provide a platform for honest engagement on the root causes of insecurity and distrust in Niger State.
Participants were drawn from different religious faiths, traditional rulers, government and security agencies, women and youth leaders, and civil society partners.
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