NIGERIA: FAITH TO BIND US NOT BREAK US
By Yomi Oyelami, Trek Africa Newspaper
#BlackNotDark with Yomi Oyelami
Enough! Faith in Nigeria doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game, it should be a win-win. Faith in Nigeria doesn’t have to be a ‘versus’ thing, it should be a ‘us-all’ thing!
In the lead up to the recent presidential elections which held in Nigeria, many leaders within the Christian circles vehemently railed against Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his choice of another Muslim as running mate. They deemed the political move as insensitive and inconsiderate. They insisted that he doesn’t deserve the vote of the Christian community. Any Christian who supported him was damned.
Now that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR is the 14th President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and his appointments have started to roll in, many Muslim leaders and groups have accused him of choosing more Christians than Muslims. There is no ‘pim’ from the Christian community, I laugh in pidgin!
When the President in his maiden speech right on the Inauguration ground announced the removal of petrol subsidy, did his action have more implication on Muslims than Christians?
Now that 1 USD is NGN 1000 in the FX market, are the Christians more affected while the Muslims smile to the bank?
I think Nigerians are forgetful of the historical fact that we didn’t use to be Christian or Muslim, we were all African traditionalists. Now, those who are still African traditionalists are considered by Christians and Muslims alike as ‘idolatrous who are already condemned by God’. It took Lagos State – the doyen of Nigeria’s peaceful coexistence, sociocultural tolerance, and political inclusion – till Year 2023 to recognise and grant those who are African traditionalists 1 day of public holiday when Christians and Muslims have enjoyed a minimum of 4 days yearly as public holiday since eons. Nigerians have to do better.
HERE ARE 5 INFALLIBLE WHY’S CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS SHOULD NEVER HAVE ATTRITION AGAIN IN NIGERIA
1. The two religions both regard Abraham as ‘our father’, hence, Islam, Christianity, – and Judaism (many don’t even know that we have Judaists in Nigeria) are called Abrahamic Faiths.
2. The two religions both believe that there is only One God (alongside Judaism), hence the term Monotheism.
3. The two religions both originate from the Middle East, hence if you study Arabic, you will discover many similarities in Hebrew and vice versa.
4. The Middle East may be a hotbed of conflicts but it should be noted that the reasons are more geopolitical than religious. Hence, temples, mosques, and churches dwell together in proximity and are rarely targets for destruction. Often, these religious sites are hallowed as places of refuge where people can seek safety.
5. For a public institution – school, hospital, ministry, department, agency, etc – to work in the best interest of the public good and social inclusion in Nigeria, it should not be allowed to run with overtly religious influence which raises unnecessary state matters like marginalization. Public institutions exist for all citizens, hence the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is neither Christian nor Muslim, the holder may be either.
Enough! It’s time to focus on the factors that bind us not those that break us. Nigeria needs her citizenry to do better!
We are #BlackNotDark
