OpinionOPINION: THE STATE, RELIGION AND NATIONAL COHESION

OPINION: THE STATE, RELIGION AND NATIONAL COHESION

On the 9th of July 2016, Deaconess Eunice Elisha was gruesomely murdered in Abuja in the early hours of the day, while carrying out a religious obligation- the great commission. Deaconess Eunice was butchered by religious fanatics during her early morning evangelism.

In the past months, there have been many of such violence against Christians, The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) says. In a media conference last week, CAN submitted:

“About a month ago in Kano, Mrs. Bridget Agbaheme, a 74-year-old Christian was murdered at Wambai market due to an altercation with a Muslim man who came to the front of her shop to perform ablution.

“Her offence was that she objected to the Islamic washing rite in front of her shop.” CAN reveals.

“Just last week a clergyman of the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA), Reverend Zakariya, was killed by attackers suspected to be Fulani herdsmen in Obi LGA of Nasarawa State.”

“They attacked him on his farm, cut off his arms and legs, and then they chopped his head with a machete.”

“Another fresh but sad news reaching us is that of the Fulani herdsmen militia that are back on rampage, killing 81 people in multiple attacks in Logo and Ukum local government areas of Benue State in central Nigeria.”

“In recent times, there have been multiple cases of attacks by Fulani herdsmen on various Christian communities, all over the nation. In the South East and in the South South zones, there have been gruesome attacks on IPOB members and on Christian communities in the Niger Delta.”

“All these are in addition to the relentless attacks of Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen in the Middle Belt and southern Borno.” CAN said.

These series of attacks as reported by the Christian body is worrisome in a multi- religious country like Nigeria, and if proper measures are not taken by government may lead to inter-religious distrust and conflicts.

It is a matter of great concern that Nigerians would be butchered in their home country without any form of action by government. The state has abandon citizens to their fate; government simply does not give a damn on what happens to the lives of the ordinary Nigerians.

It is over a week since Deaconess Eunice was brutally killed,yet the President of Nigeria, find it not apt to condemn the heinous act by the religious fanatics. The silence of President Buhari portends a great danger to the national unity of Nigeria. President Buhari is always quick to mourn with other nations in times of their national disasters but would hardly issue a statement when Nigerians are bereaved.

While the President must not be single out for the increasing violence and attacks by Christians in the country, there is a degree of responsibility that lies on the shoulders of the President when it comes to the protection of lives and properties of Nigerians. President Buhari’s actions and inactions to a large extent determine the level of peace that would exist in Nigeria.

Nigeria is currently undergoing an existential problem; our fault lines as a nation have become more visible than ever before. Hence, there is need for government and other state actors to build consensus at such a time. Religious leaders must see themselves as ambassadors of peace- emphasize the need for peaceful coexistence in course of their sermons.

Leaders from the two major religions in Nigeria- Christianity and Islam should take the issue of inter faith dialogue seriously. It has become necessary for imams and pastors to engage themselves on peace building mechanism, with a view to establishing inter-religious trust and tolerance.

Religion ideally is meant to be a unifying tool among professors – irrespective of the believe system of the people; since all religious devotees have the sole aim of getting close to God through various forms of worship. Religion is never meant to set nation against nation or brothers against brother. True religion is the fountain upon which all virtues flows. Virtues such as love, peace, patience and honesty and justice ought to stem from religious bodies because religion in real sense in synonymous with uprightness and godliness.

Inter faith harmony is what Nigeria needs now, this will no doubt lead to a nation of sound moral characters, eliminate religious misgivings among people of different faith, and enthrone the culture of oneness among Nigerians of different creed.

To achieve this, government and governance should be made separate from religion. Politics and religion are two different things; while politics most times canvasses of selfishness (ambition) true religion is selflessness.

Politicians in Nigeria have used religion to exploit the poor masses; religion is often used as a divisive tool by politicians during electioneering. The combination of politics and religion in Nigeria is what has enthroned favoritism and selective justice within the Nigerian polity.

The State must realize that religion must exist outside the sphere of politics in other to avoid clash of interests. “If we ever forget that we’re one nation under God, then we will be one nation gone under”

Written by Ominabo Wealth Dickson.

@OminaboWealth

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