Ben Ayade, governor of Cross
Rivers state, says Nigerians don’t need the Bible or Qur’an if they imbibe the
virtue of humanity as a religion in itself.
Ayade added that humanity was the
greatest religion on earth because it preaches love, kindness and unity.
The governor spoke at the
kick-off of the grand finale of the 2019 Calabar Carnival which was themed
‘Humanity’.
With reference to Nigerians and
the rest of the world, Ayade explained that man needs to change the way it relate
with each other to make room for a better society.
According to him, the human
society has become “more animalistic,” and needs to embrace humanity because it
preaches love, kindness, and unity in a manner that dispels social vices.
“As we leave here today, if we
don’t learn anything, let us learn that humanity is the greatest religion. With
humanity, you don’t need your Bible or Qur’an because, with it, you will show
love to your fellow men that need it,” he said.
“I speak with a lot of agony,
melancholy, frustration, and pain. Whether you are rich, poor, tall, short,
black or white; humanity does not know the difference because it breaks all
barriers.
“God created man to be equal and
peaceful. But, in the course of existence, man has become animalistic.”
In October, Ayade had made the
headlines after a federal high court in Calabar denied the bail application of
Agba Jalingo, a journalist who criticized his administration as governor of
Cross River.
After 34 days in detention,
Jalingo, who doubles as the publisher of CrossRiverWatch, had been arraigned on
four count charges of treasonable felony, terrorism and attempt to topple the
government.
