Catholic Media Practitioners of Nigeria (CAMPAN) and Muslim Journalists on Friday observed the breaking of the Lenten and Ramadan fasts in Kaduna.
The event attracted the Archbishop of Kaduna, Most Rev. Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, Chief Imam Of Uduwa, who is also the Morshi of Jamatu Nasir Islam, Pastor Yohanna Buru, NUJ Kaduna Chairman, among others.
Speaking at the event, Archbishop Ndagoso commended the initiative of the assemblage of media practitioners from the two major faiths and prayed it be sustained.
He said there’s a coincidence in the two religious fasts this year, as the two began days apart, maintaining that “it is only when we meet, share, and interact as journalists that we properly carry our role of putting the country together as key stakeholders in the state and country”.
Ndagoso further hinted on the Pope’s message as so special that ” it offers us the privilege to draw closer to God; it offers us opportunity to work side by side,; our world is in need of fraternity and dialogue”, he said.
Speaking further he said, “God has a message for both faiths, via our fast as our world surely is in need of fraternity and dialogue, as that’s what we are doing here as Muslim and Christian journalists and we urge others to emulate.
He also prayed that God would give Journalists and media practitioners the power of the pen to bring the country together instead of division.
Similarly, the Chief Imam of Udawa mosque, Iman Ilyasu Hussain, applauded the initiative of bringing Christian and Muslim journalists in Kaduna annually to break fast, and prayed it’s sustained for the the wellbeing of the state and the country.
According to him, he has benefited and enjoyed very close relationships with Christian leaders and colleagues more in the past which had helped him to be where he is now in life today, while emphasising and advocating greater ties among Christian and Muslim faithful to achieve true peace .
In the same vein, Pastor Yohanna Buru, thanked the Archbishop for the initiative, describing him as a unifier, and one he had known for over a decade in the service of peace in the state and prayed that God would continue to use him to keep the Archdiocese, state, and country together.
On his part, Kaduna NUJ Chairman, Mr Abdulgafar Allelebe lauded the event and thanked the Archbishop for giving his media colleagues the platform to have such gathering, and emphasised the need for its sustenance.
He however lamented our past history of religious conflicts in the state, caused by enemies of peace, but assured that, all that is now in the past as many have now learned from the past.
Also, the Chairman of Muslim Journalists League, Mallam Jafaru Yakubu appreciated the invitation by CAMPAN to Muslim Journalists to break fast together, adding that as journalists we have different faiths or beliefs, but work together for peace and stability in our state and country, through professionalism in our reportage.
He called for synergy amongst. Journalists and media practitioners, while emphasising the need for respect for both religions, and prayed the program is enhanced annually.
Earlier, the Chairman CAMPAN, Kaduna Archdiocese, Mr Nicholas Dekera, said the programme of breaking fast together annually was conceptualised to strengthen the bond of cooperation and unity between media practitioners of the two major religions.
Lending his voice, veteran journalist, elder Tajuddeen Ajibade Tijjani, noted that by the initiative, “we have now found a way out of our challenges to peace, if sustained, adding, “if we are peaceful as people of faith, our state and country will also be peaceful”.
