Religion Tolerance Amongst Nigerians.

Religion Tolerance Amongst Nigerians.

 

As a Nigerian, it’s only natural to aim this piece at my people. Religion itself is peaceful and designed to unite the people. Religion is defined as a set of beliefs that is held by a group of people. It is legal and acceptable in our communities for people to gather for a common belief to praise and worship God in whatever language, mode and doctrine they deem fit.

Beyond the shores of Nigeria, there are various religions e.g. Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Shinto, Buddhism etc.  In most cases people turn to religion during their challenging period with the sole aim of looking for comfort during those crisis. During this practice, you are expected to be devotional, follow some rules or moral codes and observe some rituals.

Back to Nigeria – It’s either religion is a curse because it’s definitely not a blessing and not promoting peace and harmony either. Nigeria as a Country is the home to one of the most religious people on earth in terms of numbers. Both Islam and Christianity are the most popular religions with a large followership.

A while back, I was a Youth Corper and a teacher in a federal government school in Plateau State and what I saw with my eyes changed my view on religion forever. Regular clashes between Muslims and Christians, resulting in massive killings from both sides. So worse that husbands were killing their own wives and children in the name of defending their faith! Young newly wedded couple traveling from Bauchi via one of the towns in Plateau State were slaughtered like animals, their sin was to be at the wrong place at the wrong time and of course being Muslims! 

There were “Rumours” that human meats were being consumed by the killers. There were celebrations at the town centre anytime there was a “Success” at their hunting! People drinking burukutu, eating suya and dancing over killing of other human being? I couldn’t relate with that at any level! They claimed to be Christians!!This is definitely not what real Christianity is all about. Reminds me of what Mahatma Gandhi said “I like your Christ but I don’t like your Christians”.

Muslim Corpers dare not leave their quarters and they were advised to mind how they dress and for security reasons to start learning some psalms and prayer points in the Bible, just in case there is a need to defend themselves verbally! Same advice goes for the Christian corpers to learn some Surat and Islam code of conduct and prayers for self-defence! 

The most shocking part was the fact that all these towns have retired and active generals as indigenes and they were the one financing, providing ammunitions and military uniforms (stolen from government vaults) for their people in the name of “Security”!

Have a look at what has been going on in Borno for nearly a decade in the name of Jihad! Abducting innocent children, maiming and killing innocent people in the name of Islam! This is definitely not Islam. 

How many people have to die to achieve this unachievable quest? They dislike anything western but they are being bribed with Euros and Dollars? Using Mobile phones? Using Video recorders? Using grenades, automatic weapons? Who exactly are they deceiving?! This has been nothing but pure madness in the name of religion! You can’t force people to share your faith or believe in whatever you believe in. People have rights just as you do and it’s entirely up to them to practice any religion they desire.

 

An average Nigerian practice one faith or the other and yet our society is so decay with so much atrocities and vices that you wonder if Satan himself is a resident in Nigeria. So many Churches and Mosques than business centres on our streets. 

I sometimes wonder if people go to Church or Mosque to listen to the sermons and leave them behind once they are out of the building because their action does not match what they are portraying!  People claiming to be religious leaders have been caught to be sleeping with their congregation members or involved in some diabolic ways and fraudulent activities!

Religions outside Nigeria are not the same as being practiced in Nigeria. What sort of a Christian goes to Church on a Sunday and only to come back home and rape a 3yr old? What sort of Muslim goes to Mosque on a Friday and only to return and pick up a gun and kill other being? Are the people better off without religion? I do not understand someone that thinks being a Christian then other religions are crap or someone that thinks being a Muslim then everyone must be a Muslim or they are mortal enemy!

In any society that desire development, it is unavoidable to respect others’ faith and cohabit without any sort of rancour that’s religion related. We are already separated via tribal lines then to top it up with religion differences is not only unfortunate but a further division that we can’t afford as a Country and people. There is absolutely nothing wrong in being religious but that’s a personal choice that has zero thing to do with the next man.

Nigeria is a better place if a man from Okigwe with Catholic faith has no fear to live in a shared house in Sabongari in Kano with a local man with the Islamic faith and a Man from Benin with traditional faith is at peace with a Muslim man from Lokoja. See Uchenna as who he is irrespective of his faith, see Adeola as who she is without reference to her faith and see Talatu as who she is without blocking your view of her with her faith. The community is a better place when we understand the differences and respect it.

There are Christians living and working in Saudi Arabia – they don’t get killed or harassed! There are Muslims living and working in Rome and Jerusalem – So why all these senseless killings my dear Nigerians?

Believe it or not – Be it Islam, Christianity or Traditional religion, we are all praying to and worshiping the same God. Our language and mode of worshipping may be different but it doesn’t change the fact that we are all believers. 

Christians have the Statue of Jesus Christ or His mother Mary as image to worship and channel their prayers to God just as Muslims are facing the Kiblah to channel their prayers to God via Ka’ba. The traditionalists are not any different; they also have images created in the image of God to request for whatever they desire and give praise and worship via it.

I have no issue with any Christian, I respect your faith and your person – invite me to your Church I shall attend and contribute to the development of your Gospel.

I have no issue with any Muslim, I respect your faith and your person – Invite me to your Mosque and I shall pray with you and give Zakat.

I have no issue with traditionalists  – I respect their faith and who they are – send me an invitation at Ogun, Olokun, Sango,Ala, Ikenga, Ofo festival and we shall dance and celebrate together.

They call it 3-in-1 religion. I call it peaceful life. They call me a lost soul but I am not the one living in fear, neither am I with a heart of a hatred! 

Let there be peace in the land.