The Senior Pastor of Covenant Christian Center and Convener of The Platform, Poju Oyemade, has called on Nigerians not to allow their religious orientations or leanings to create division in the country.

Speaking at the Covenant Place, Iganmu to mark the nation’s 59th Independence Anniversary, the cleric asked citizens to instead use their religious beliefs as tools to appeal to the conscience of both the leaders and followers.

“The religion of this nation must not be used as a divisive tool but a tool to appeal to the moral conscience of men.

“We have heard from them that know that when men gather to steal public funds, the issue of tribe and religion is not taken into consideration,” he said.

He added that “the seed of our dream for a better Nigeria requires nourishment from this earth, institutional knowledge gathered all over the years.”

He recalled that when former United State President Barack Obama was launching his campaign for the presidency in 2006, he acknowledged the importance of faith.

The realisation that faith is important, according to Pastor Oyemade, perhaps explains why America is technologically and economically advanced.

“I think we make a mistake when we fail to acknowledge the power of faith in and around people. If we are going to speak to the people where they are, we must understand that Americans are religious people.

“90 percent of Americans believe in God, 70 percent are affiliated to organized religion and that 38 percent call themselves committed Christians. This is probably the most advanced society in the world,” he said.