National Development: Soyinka Advocates Religious Tolerance

Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has condemned the killings in some parts of the country, which he believes have occurred in the name of religion.

Soyinka made this comments in Abuja on Thursday at a book presentation on religion and the making of Nigeria, written by Professor Olufemi Vaughan.

The event which was also attended by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, attracted a lot of other dignitaries.

Soyinka believes that in order for Nigeria to move on, and to ensure national development, there must be religious tolerance.

In the last few years, Nigeria has witnessed an upsurge in the level of insurgency with the likes of Niger Delta militants, armed herdsmen and Boko Haram Terrorists especially, whose activities were believed to have a strong religious undertone.

The abduction of over 200 girls, from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, a town in Borno state, on April 14, 2014, appears to have been one of the most disheartening acts carried out by the insurgents.

Also, herdsmen attacks in the southern Kaduna region, terrorist explosions in the northeast, as well as attacks on oil installations in the Niger Delta are all events that have continued to threaten the peace of the nation.