The summit was the last dream of the respected cleric before he was gruesomely murdered. Sheikh Masussuka, who was shot dead at his residence in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area of Katsina State last Monday, had initiated the programme under his Quranic Believers Harmony for Peace Initiative.
Despite his shocking death, his followers and the organisers resolved not to let his vision die.
In his welcome address, the Secretary of the Initiative, Dr. Mustapha Haruna, said the decision to proceed with the summit was deliberate, to honour the late cleric's final wish.
"This programme was Sheikh Masussuka's heart project. He believed Nigeria can only survive if Muslims and Christians learn to live in peace. His death is a painful setback, but abandoning his dream would be a bigger tragedy. We are here today to tell the world that his message of peace is bigger than his death," Dr. Haruna said.
He explained that the summit was designed to promote religious tolerance, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence among different faiths in Nigeria and across Africa.
In what many described as the highlight of the event, the Katsina State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Reverend Richard Sha'aibu Liti, mounted the podium and described the gathering as historic.
According to him, the presence of both Christians and Muslims in large numbers to celebrate a Muslim cleric's vision for peace shows that Nigerians are tired of religious division.
"This summit is not just an event, it is history. It proves that we can disagree in faith but agree on peace. This initiative will continue to enjoy our full support because without peace, there is no religion and there is no Nigeria. This will not be a wasted effort," Rev. Liti declared.
On his part, the renowned Islamic scholar and former Chief Imam of Apo Legislative Quarters Mosque, Abuja, Sheikh Muhammad Nuru Khalid, popularly known as the Digital Imam, said the late Masussuka has written his name in gold.
He noted that while his killers thought they had silenced him, they have only amplified his message of tolerance to the whole world.
"Masussuka lived for peace and he died for peace. His greatest legacy is this movement of religious harmony. His killing must not stop us. I call on his followers to remain calm, to continue praying for Nigeria and to live the peace he preached," Sheikh Khalid said.
He also called on security agencies to intensify efforts to fish out those behind the murder and bring them to justice.
The colourful but solemn event attracted prominent religious leaders from across Nigeria and some African countries, Christian and Muslim leaders, as well as personalities including former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Barr. Solomon Selcap Dalung, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
For many attendees, the summit was more than a programme - it was a statement that peace will outlive violence.
