Nigeria @ 58: Lets Ban Religion, And We’ll Be Fine

Nigerians have fooled around for too long. Or was it the framers of our constitution that fooled us? Whatever it is, we have long lived under the delusion that Nigeria is a secular country, because that’s what the constitution says. There shall be no state religion, right?

But in reality, what do we have? Or what have we had? Yes, there is no official state religion, and there is religious freedom. But our political elite have brought religion into the centre of politics and ignited religious tension across the country. In a country that can easily be sliced into geo-political religious divides, politicians and political clerics have thrived on the exploitation of this fault line.

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Whenever it suits them, the political elites have included exploitation of religious sentiments as part of their campaign strategies to win elections. The tragedy is that these elite do not care about religion and in most cases are not devout worshipers, but their utterances and actions are poison to religious harmony.

In truth, whether Christianity or Islam, no religion preaches intolerance or hate. But our politicians have found religion a soft tool for political chicanery. Why would a politician go to campaign rally in his or her comfort zone and tell the people to vote for him/her because they’re the same faith and the opponent is of different faith? Or why would politicians go from house to house telling voters why they need to vote for someone of their faith? It’s of no use pretending, these things happen.

And the blame can go round. Why would journalists carry television cameras inside the mosque or church to interview a president or governor? Or why a president or governor in a secular state address his countrymen from a church or mosque? What message are we sending to people of other faiths? Why would a governor or president speak from the pulpit?

Yes, it is understandable if there’s a tragedy and he goes to commiserate with worshippers in the mosque or church. But why should he or she be the focus of television cameras when he goes to worship privately? Is it not a violation of the letter or spirit of the constitution?

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When Barack Obama traveled to an Asian country as president and visited a temple dressed in the religious robe of the worshippers, it attracted widespread condemnation by the American media. Reason is the president personifies the country; he or she is the country anywhere they go.

The clerics also share in the blame. Why would our men of God not just preach the scripture, invite people to God and warn political leaders from the pulpit? Why does the Jamma’atul Nasrul Islam or the Christian Association of Nigeria make partisan political comments?

Are these organizations not supposed to be welfare associations for their members? Why should they become partisan? It may be desirable for them to intervene politically if we’re a Christian or Muslim state. But what is their business with politics in a country that is supposed to be secular?

These organizations and other ones like them have done more harm than good to the unity of this country. In 2015 this country barely and miraculously escaped a religious conflagration because we had two candidates who drew their support largely from people of their faith.

I also remember the aftermath of the 2011 presidential election when supporters of a presidential candidate who lost the election descended on people of other faiths, maiming and killing in parts of the North. I was returning from election duty from Katsina and was caught in the fire. Even though I am a Muslim, those who blocked the road in Zaria asked me to recite a verse in the Qur’an before I was allowed to go. Many innocent people were killed in the madness.
Before the mayhem, politicians from the zone spoke on radio, alleging that Muslims were being disenfranchised in the South, especially South East. The allegation fueled the religious attack.

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In recent years, use of religion in politics has become common and has taken a more frightening dimension. In 2015 the PDP called Muhammadu Buhari, who was the APC candidate, a Muslim fanatic. His supporters in the north too characterized the PDP administration of Goodluck Jonathan as anti-Islam.

We’re again seeing appeal to religious sentiments in the run-up to the 2019 election, especially in the North-Central states where the clashes between herders and farmers have assumed religious colouration. Even though the evidences suggest otherwise, politicians and their cohort in faith-based organizations have been quick to capitalize on the tragedy, describing it in religious terms. And the lie has caught on like wild fire. All you need to confirm is go on social media. Nigerians can hardly comment on these matters without putting religious undertone.

We need to look at our constitution again and save this country from those profiting from religious divide. Let us ban religion from our political life. Not because religion, as Marxists argue, is the opium of the people. No, it is not in Nigeria. Religion is actually poison here in Nigeria; a poison that you consume and feel the urge to kill and maim.

Let us ban our presidents and governors from speaking to Nigerians from the mosque or church pulpits. Let us enact laws that makes it a criminal offence for politicians to use religious language at campaign rallies. Let our laws ban anyone who has ever expressed very strong religious views from contesting election as president or governor.

I am not in any way suggesting that devotees of religions should not be allowed to rule, far from it. But anyone who aspires to rule us must keep his religious convictions to himself. Anyone quoted publicly to have expressed strong religious views does not deserve to rule a secular country because he/she will be a divisive leader.

Let us ban CAN, JNI and all faith-based organizations from issuing political statements and endorsing overtly or covertly any political party or candidate. Their activities must be restricted to religious issues.

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Suleiman wrote in from Abuja

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Whistler NG

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