Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has urges Nigerians to rid their hearts and minds of hate, intolerance and prejudice, which he said could promote violent conflicts and destruction of life and property in the country.
In his passionate Sallah message on the occasion of Eid-el Kabir celebration, the former Vice President said every passing day he was saddened by the “deepening frenzy of hate, intolerance and bigotry”, which produce toxic effects on unity and harmony among Nigerians.
According to the former Vice President, Nigerians should use religion to create a conflict free society, adding that “love is the universal language of all the world’s religions.”
He urged Muslims and other Nigerians to be good ambassadors of the teachings of their own religions.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar appealed to the Muslim faithful to pay greater attention to stemming and eliminating poisonous extremist tendencies by ensuring that people with violent ideologies are not allowed to influence the innocent in the wrong direction.
Atiku said Muslims must speak with one voice against extremism because of the great harm its causing the image of Islam and its adherents.
He said the greatest honour Muslims could do to their religion was to live by its virtues.