NACOMYO wants regulatory body for preachers

THE National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations (NACOMYO) has advocated the establishment of a ministry of religious affairs or an agency that will regulate the activities of religious preachers in the country.

It stated that licensing of preachers in the country would check their excesses and serve as an antidote to hate preaching and inflammatory utterances that tend to threaten the peace in the country.

NACOMYO, in a statement by its National President, Alhaji Kamaldeen Akintunde stressed the establishment of such a regulatory body was imperative as it would cause preachers to be refined, disciplined and apply decorum in calling people to the way of God.

The organisation expressed concern that religion was assuming a dimension that was capable of causing Nigerians to take up arms against one another and, therefore, called on the government to take steps towards averting religious crises in the interest of the country.

It renewed its call for the reinvigoration of the Nigerian-Inter Religious Council (NIREC) to check religious bigotry, intolerance and ensure interfaith cooperation for development.

NACOMYO also emphasised the need for restraint on the part of stakeholders, especially those at the helm of affairs, asking them to eschew sentiments and be part of the solution and not the problem.

The group urged Muslims and Christians to close ranks and forge a common ground in the collective bid to overcome the challenges facing the country.

Meanwhile, the apex body of all Muslim youth organisations has decried the order of the United States president, Donald Trump regarding immigrants, saying it is cruel, unfriendly and ungenerous.

It noted that new American president’s order on visa has implications for international collaboration for development and advancement.

The group implored Trump to reverse the order which has sparked a global outcry, just as it called on the Nigerian government and other affected countries to explore diplomatic approach at forcing President Trump to rescind his policies.