Lagos: Two clerics, Prof. Amidu Sanni, Chief Imam of Lagos State University, and Pastor Charles Ighele of the Holy Spirit Mission Church, Ikeja, have described President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s presence at Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration mass as a demonstration of religious tolerance.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Tinubu, a Muslim, joined other world leaders on Sunday to participate in the inauguration mass at St. Peter’s Square, Rome.
NAN reports that Sanni emphasized the importance of embracing President Tinubu’s religious liberalism and statesmanship to promote unity among Nigerians. He highlighted that Tinubu’s participation in the one-hour mass was a testament to Islamic liberalism, inclusivism, and statesmanship. Sanni also mentioned that Tinubu held a closed-door meeting with the Nigerian Conference of Catholic Cardinals following the inauguration, where he expressed his support for their cause and urged them to work towards enhancing unity through diversity.
Sanni further noted that President Tinubu has consistently shown support for pilgrimages to Jerusalem. He appealed to Nigerians to adopt a mindset of respecting religious choices without malice, drawing inspiration from the President’s actions. Sanni believes that tolerance and broad-mindedness are essential for effective leadership, which should be emulated at all levels to ensure peaceful coexistence and societal development.
In his comments, Pastor Ighele expressed no surprise at Tinubu’s presence in Rome, noting that Tinubu’s wife, Remi, is a known Christian. He praised the President for allowing his wife to attend church and for his attendance at the Pope’s inauguration, which he sees as a significant gesture of religious tolerance. Ighele, though not a Catholic, expressed joy at seeing Tinubu among other leaders on television, emphasizing that Tinubu’s actions promote religious harmony.
Ighele concluded by highlighting the need for people to view each other as humans created by the same God, fostering a spirit of unity and appreciation for good deeds regardless of religious affiliations.
