Former Nigeria Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, IBB, has urged the Federal and state governments to reintroduce religious knowledge across public primary and secondary schools in the Nation to foster unity and love.
IBB stated this when he received the leadership of the Niger State Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, led by the state Chairman, Most Rev. Dr. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna who were on a visit to his hilltop mansion, Minna.
He noted that there is a need for Nigeria to go back to the teachings of religious knowledge in schools as the only way to change the society for the better.
The elder statesman who commended the state CAN for its effort in making sure good morals are inculcated in the youths expressed his readiness to champion the cause for a better society.
According to him: “I can see that you are making a lot of efforts in trying to bring back morals and religious knowledge in our society.
“This is the only way we can change our society, by teaching Christian Religious Knowledge, CRK, Islamic Religious Knowledge, IRK, and other moral subjects in public schools.
“It may not be easy, but I know it is what this country needs at the moment. We need to go back to what it used to be, especially in the teachings of religious knowledge.”
He continued, ” I am prepared and I will be ready anytime with any good cause you have. I will be ready to speak to the President (Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu) and the State Governor (Rt. Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago) and I can assure you that something will be done both at national and state levels”.
Recall the call for the reintroduction of CRK to public schools in Niger State has been among the top topical issues by various stakeholders in the state.
Babangida added that in his growing days, religious knowledge was one factor that shaped the society, saying, then Christians and Muslims prayed and played together in love and unity in the 50s and 60s.
Earlier, the State CAN Chairman, Most Rev. Dr Bulus Dauwa Yohanna told IBB that the visit was to formally introduce themselves, and receive counsel from his wealth of experience as one who believes in the unity and peaceful coexistence of the country irrespective of tribe, religion or political affiliations.
Dr Yohanna, who is also the Catholic Bishop of the Kontagora Diocese stated that his leadership has made several efforts on the need for reintroduction of CRK in schools which include submitting proposals to the government and hoping for positive action.
The cleric said, ” Your Excellency sir, we are doing all we can to curtail any form of restiveness and to ensure we inculcate in our youths good morals for a better society. We strongly want to appeal to you to join us in the call for the reintroduction of Christian Religious Knowledge in the curriculum of all public primary and secondary schools across the state and the country.