By Dada Ahmed.
Senator Sunday Karimi.
In an era marred by conflict and human cruelty, the power of faith, shared across religious lines,emerges as a potent antidote. This truth rang loud and clear in Lokoja recently, as Christian and Muslim faithful converged to seek divine intervention over some killings in Kogi West Senatorial District.
At the solemn occasion,worshippers gathered at the Central Mosque and ECWA Church,all in Lokoja respectfully in a symbolic act of unity. The interfaith prayer initiative, tagged “Seek the Face of Allah/God in Kogi West,” was not just another event,but also desperate cry for help, many described it as a communal appeal to heaven in the face of persistent kidnappings, killings, especially in kogi West.
More so, it marks one of the few times in recent history that interfaith collaboration was boldly used in Kogi West to confront insecurity, aimed at bringing hope to a district bleeding from the wounds of killing and kidnapping.
At the heart of the initiative is a distinguished Senator Sunday Karimi, who represents Kogi West in the National Assembly. Karimi the initiator of the religious exercise, did not mince words when he addressed journalists after the occasion.
“When kidnapping and insecurity reach alarming levels, it becomes necessary to seek the face of the Almighty for intervention and mercy. With prayers, all things are possible,” he was quoted as saying.
His words carried the weight of a man deeply burdened by the cries of his constituents. For Karimi, leadership goes beyond legislation,it involves standing in the gap when fear and pain threaten to consume a people.
Experience shows that the throes of religious tensions, in most societies are sometimes manipulated for political or ethnic gain. Yet, as Senator Karimi’s initiative reveals, religion can effectively serve as a bridge toward peace.This is because most faiths preach love, justice, and compassion, the virtues the world desperately needs to ensure to seek and sustain peace, especially in kogi West.
Conflict resolution experts agree that sustainable peace,must leverage traditional and spiritual frameworks to enable interfaith prayers like those held in Lokoja create space for dialogue, mutual respect, and emotional healing.
The participation of both Christian and Muslim clerics and their followers in simultaneous prayer across different venues seems ordinary to outsiders, but for residents of Kogi West, it represents a rare opportunity and deeply moving show of solidarity.
This religious unity sends a powerful message, that those who kill in the name of religion are not guided by it, and that the true essence of faith lies in protecting life, not destroying it.
Senator Karimi is not stopping at Lokoja as he announced that the interfaith prayer sessions would continue across other local government areas in Kogi West until peace is restored.
This commitment transforms the prayers from a one-off event into a movement. A movement that says that communities in kogi West may be under siege, but they refuse to surrender their souls or their hopes.
While government deploys military and security assets, it must be stressed that these alone cannot cure the deep fear that grips communities after repeated attacks. That is where spiritual initiatives like Karimi’s come in to play a greater role in restoring courage, calm, peace and the will to express hope again.
By involving both religious communities, the Senator is not only appealing to God but also mobilizing the moral conscience of society to peace ,an essential step towards sustainable peace and development.
Many people Kogi West express belief that this approach will go along way in creating a spiritual firewall against hate and a community-wide front of resilience.
It is hereby urged that the interfaith model adopted in Kogi West should serve as a blueprint for other troubled states in Nigeria and that rather than allowing religion to fuel division, leaders must use it to sow peace.
Religious experts agree that when politicians, clerics, and citizens stand united, even the darkest of nights begin to lose their grip.In essence,interfaith collaboration offers a homegrown path to peace,credible, sustainable, and deeply rooted in local culture.
However, security analysts aregue that while spiritual effort is indispensable in curbing crises, it must be matched with concrete action where sermons followed by security improvements, policy reforms, and socioeconomic empowerment.
This is because peace is not just about quiet but justice, dignity, and opportunity propel meaningful social, economic and political development. It is in this comprehensive vision that the true value of Karimi’s efforts becomes clear.
Regrettably the killings and abductions in Kogi West have left behind more than statistics, leaving behind broken families, frightened children, and traumatized communities. But initiatives like these signal that help is on the way.
If people of different faiths can kneel together in prayer, they can also stand together in purpose. That unity is what will ultimately defeat the forces of division and destruction.
Therefore,Senator Sunday Karimi’s faith-led response to insecurity is not just a political move, but a moral one. It shows that leadership, at its best, listens, prays, and acts. As the prayers continue across Kogi West, it is hoped that the sound of unity will drown out the echoes of gunfire.
This is a very important lesson to Nigerians and the global community that, interfaith is not just a religious ideal,but a practical path to peace.
Ahmed in the publisher of The Reporters.
ahmeddada008@gmail.com.
