Noble Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka has said until the preachers of religious intolerance are brought to face trial and if found guilty, penalised, religious violence would be not abate in the country. He made the recommendation while delivering a lecture titled: “Culture At Risk” held at the University of Benin Thursday.
The Noble Laureate said when those who have instigated the killing of persons in the name of religious blasphemy are allowed to walk freely in the society without being made to face trial and be dealt with according to the law, it will further encourage more religious violence in the country.
“When you have people like that whom I know that have instigated the killing of others walking freely on the streets, without being made to pay restitution for incitement to murder under the banner of cultural relativism, it encourages others to continue in the act. “My view is that, we can complain, we can proffer, we can condemn, as much as we want, until those who are guilty, even by vicarious liability when a murder is committed are brought to book and made to apologize to the whole nation, and face penalty, such will not stop”, he said.
He also said that when they are brought to book, it would serve as a deterrent to others who are nursing the idea of inciting more violence in the country.
He said the bombing and killing of innocent citizens in the country is as a result of what they have been made to believe in from the religious perspective. He said the destruction of mosques, churches, shrines, ancient monuments are all products of religious intolerance in the country, stressing that Nigerians must learn to tolerate one another irrespective of cultural and religious differences.
He cautioned those inciting religious violence through their messages to desist from such but rather use their institutions to propagate peaceful coexistence and religious tolerance in the country.
Speaking earlier, the Vice Chancellor, University of Benin, Prof. Faraday Orumwense said the 2nd Eminent Lecture Series with its theme:”Culture At Risk” was apt and significant in the cultural antecedent of the great ancient city of Benin Kingdom. He said the lecture series is one of his intellectual hallmarks and initiatives to leave an indelible footprint in the history of the institution. He called on the students to make use of the opportunity to learn and improve on themselves
