Public affairs analyst and former president of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Africa Union of Journalists (AUJ), Lanre Ogundipe, has warned political and religious leaders against using religion to advance political interests. He said such practices could heighten interfaith tensions and fuel violence. Ogundipe said attempts by some leaders of religious groups to use religious institutions, symbols and rhetoric to achieve political objectives could undermine the principle of separation of religion and the state. He made the remarks against the backdrop of growing political and religious tensions in Nigeria and elsewhere in the world. Ogundipe urged political and religious leaders to pay greater attention to young people, whom he described as the main source of support for radical movements.