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Nigeria is Islamised and Christianised

By Oyeniran Abioje
25 August 2016   |   3:16 am
Sir: The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Saa’d Abubakar III, was quoted as saying that “nobody can Islamise Nigeria”. Is Nigeria not Islamized from Hausa land to Lagos? Which part of Nigeria has not been Islamisaed and Christianised? Christian and Islamic propagandists demonised African Traditional Religion (ATR) and culture. And now adherents of Christianity and Islam…

Religion

Sir: The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Saa’d Abubakar III, was quoted as saying that “nobody can Islamise Nigeria”. Is Nigeria not Islamized from Hausa land to Lagos? Which part of Nigeria has not been Islamisaed and Christianised? Christian and Islamic propagandists demonised African Traditional Religion (ATR) and culture. And now adherents of Christianity and Islam dominate the land and transform it into a nation of miserable people. How? Nigerians are asked to set their amulets ablaze or throw them into pit latrines. Hence armed robbers prevented banks in Igbomina land from operating, and Fulani herdsmen use their own magic and sophisticated weapons to kill crop farmers.

In the late 1970s, one Christian prophet wielded the Holy Bible and went to meet lion in its cage in the zoological garden of University of Ibadan. Initially, the lion was confused and retreated.. But, it eventually regained itself, moved forward and killed the jubilating prophet. A traditional African would not go into a lion’s den without having found a way of testing his or her appropriate amulet.

Before the confusion created by Christian and Islamic propagandists, if you are accused of theft or any crime, and you deny, you will be taken to the appropriate shrine and made to swear. Unless you confess, the consequence will happen, unfailingly. Today, once church and mosque are settled by corrupt politicians, Nigerians will be told to be patient and that everything will “soon” be as desired. Or, did you not read what Pastors Tunde Bakare and F.W. Kumuyi are quoted as saying about the presidential administration of General Muhammadu Buhari (GMB), that all will “soon” be well. On what do they base their assertion? They themselves are well fed in the Lord’s vineyard!

As a military Major General, GMB thinks about nothing but war and weapons, rather than peace strategies based on justice and fairness. Hence he is importing sophisticated weapons rather than seeking peace. Yet, General Olusegun Obasanjo (OBJ) did much better in maintaining peace and a modicum of fairness, as the President, 1999-2007. Thus, for instance, OBJ saw no reason to attack Boko Haram. Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (Jerusalem Pilgrim, JP) were civilians, yet they abused their powers and attacked Boko Haram, provoking the latter into insurgency.

GMB is perpetuating injustice against Boko Haram, even while committing haram, such as selling dollars at official rate to Christian and Muslim pilgrims. Is that part of his constitutional responsibilities, or he is lawless and undisciplined? Can importation of sophisticated weapons replace good governance? Can there be peace where there is no justice? God will judge.

• Oyeniran Abioje, University of Ilorin.

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