Attah Ede, Makurdi
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has called for religious freedom for all Nigerians while in London.
He made the call while addressing Nigerians in Diaspora and friends of Nigeria at the Freedom of Religion and Belief International Ministerial Fringe Events on Nigeria organised by Para-Mallam Peace Foundation and the International Peace-Building and Social Justice in United Kingdom.
Governor Ortom in a statement issued on Friday and made available to journalists in Makurdi by his Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora Affairs, Peter Ichull, stated that freedom is humanity’s most valuable commodity, and equally it’s most contested.
The defender of the Benue Valley however alluded that Nigeria, as a nation is presently under siege due to the activities of terrorists with its attendant bombing of churches and killing of clergy and worshippers.
He added that all these were to send fear into the living to restrict their religious freedom
“It was for this reason that every just and progressive society must uphold certain freedoms for all people as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human rights, the international covenant on civil and political rights, the constitutions of most nations, including Nigeria and other rights’ documents,” Ortom said.
The governor challenged Nigerians in the Diaspora to use the international environment with its free press to draw attention to problems in their country and speak against religious extremism.
