Obaseki urges Nigerians to deploy religion as tool for peace, development

Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo has urged Nigerians to deploy religion as a tool of enhancing peace, unity and development in the country.

Obaseki  gave this advice during the opening ceremony of the 14th National Biennial Conference of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) in Benin.

The governor said that religion holds the key to the hearts of the people, adding that to change the society, Nigerians must deploy true religion as a life changing tool.

He also said that there was the need for collaboration between religious bodies and the government to tackle vices in the country.

“The meeting I had over the weekend with religious leaders revealed that many social scourges we face as a society can be eliminated if we express our faith responsibly and if government partners our religious bodies.

“The present economic situation takes full toll on the social fabric of the society, by causing ethnic and religious tension.

“As Christians, we must not allow emotions to take a better part of us, but rather we should deploy religion as a tool for peace, national unity and development.

“I look forward to the Nigeria of our dream where Christians, Muslims and all adherents of different religions will live together in peace and unity”, he said.

Meanwhile, the president of PFN, Pastor Felix Omobude welcomed the Acting president Prof Yemi Osinbajo and the governor of the state to the conference.

He said that PFN was a voice for the voiceless and source of hope to the forgotten.

Omobude urged Christians  to embrace peace and work for the unity of the country.