Watch Those Christian And Islamic Clerics

Sir: Whoever means well for Nigeria should pay close attention to the utterances and actions of Christians and Muslims in general, and Christo-Islamic clerics in particular. It is significant that while those who are ruling Nigeria profess to be Christians and Muslims, the country remains chaotic and under-developed? 

  Our national life has been characterised by division and politico-religious crises resulting in wanton destruction of lives and property. Christian and Islamic purveyors battle for territories (emirates, sultanates, dioceses, archdioceses, parishes, etc.) the same way the Europeans scrambled for colonies. And today, like many other African countries, Nigeria is a Christo-Islamic colony, and is also subservient to the Western world, through neo-colonialism. 

  Two recent experiences motivated this article. Last month, two Islamic clerics in their Friday programme on Harmony FM, Idofian, Kwara State, categorised Nigeria’s voters into four segments. In the first category are cash and carry voters. Second are those who vote based on religious affiliation. Third are those who don’t know who to vote for but are guided or directed by somebody. In the fourth category are those who vote on a candidate’s enviable past records. But one of the clerics added a caveat that past good record is insufficient without ẹ̀sìn (religion in Yoruba). Is that caveat Nigeria’s priority or Christo-Islamic priority? 

  On Sunday, February 8, 2015, between 10 and 11 am on Radio Kwara, an Islamic cleric was interviewed. The last person who phoned-in asked whether a Muslim could vote for any of the Christians contesting the governorship position in the state. I expected the cleric to say: Of course if he or she is adjudged to be of good character. But, the cleric answered that the Qur’an forbids Muslims following a kafir. Remember what I heard in January (as stated above) that beyond good record, a person must have religion. My mind then went to General Muhammadu Buhari, who is a Muslim contesting to be Nigeria’s President. 

  Yes, very many Nigerians trust Buhari. He has never been associated with religious bigotry, but the utterances of some Islamic clerics cannot but worry whoever is anxious about Nigeria’s unity, peace and stability. It is worrisome that Nigeria’s politicians troop to Christo-Islamic clerics for mystical/worldly support. As a corollary, Nigerian rulers bribe some Christians and Muslims with pilgrimage sponsorship and festival gifts, with misappropriated public funds. Politicians and Christo-Islamic clerics certainly flagrantly ignore Nigeria’s unity.

• Pius Abioje, 

University of Ilorin.