The impact of religion, be it Islam or Christianity, on everyday life in Nigeria cannot and should not be underestimated. However, when it comes to politics, confusion ensues. How deeply should religion be integrated into politics, if at all?
Some Nigerians say politics and religion are inseparable in our country. Some say we’re blinded by religion and therefore biased in our judgments. Naij.com’s guest author Rev. Anthony B. Shawuya, writing from Kaduna, talks about speculations of “Islamization” of Nigeria. Religion, he insists, should not become the defining factor as we’re about to choose our leaders come the 2015 elections.
My oh my, is it because of power that my compatriots are leading people astray? Why has the issue of Islamization of Christians suddenly become a thing of concern just because someone wants to remain in power? Why are we so paranoid about a “plan” by our Muslim brothers to Islamize us? Do the PDP’s Muslims have this “Islamic agenda” to turn our names from Anthony to Mohammed? What about the APC that has good Christians in it occupying its leadership positions? Where is it written in their manifesto that their “plan” is to Islamize Nigeria?
One thing I know for sure is that two Nigeria’s main religions, Christianity and Islam, have mandates to spread and gain more adherents. For us Christians, it is embedded in the missionary mandate in Matthew 28:19-20. For Muslims, it is in the jihad which Mohammed (SAW) categorised into the lesser jihad and the greater jihad.
The lesser jihad is the one of warfare while the greater jihad is spiritual warfare. Having fought the lesser jihad to establish Islam, Mohammed (SAW) left his followers with an injunction to continue the greater jihad in order to spread Islam. More so, to win a convert to Islam is through preaching, not war.
If, truly, Muslims are carrying out their mandate, what about us Christians? What are we doing to win converts into Christinaity and make Jesus accepted by those who are yet to accept him?
I am really sad and ashamed of some of my compatriots who have reduced themselves to mere religious propagandists. This has blindfolded them and their followers. Even if GEJ wins the elections, they have already succeeded in creating a divided Nigeria along religious lines.
Of course, we may not vote Buhari. But will not voting for him be the solution to the “Islamization agenda”? If we vote GEJ (Christian) and Namadi Sambo (Muslim), will Namadi give up the idea of taking over from GEJ in 2019? Or do we think the PDP will field another Christian come 2015 because Christians are key to winning elections in Nigeria?
Now that we have brandished our fellow Christian Osinbajo as having an “Islamic agenda”, what happens if by 2019 the APC fields him as their presidential candidate, with the PDP promoting a Muslim one?
As for me, if we truly desire the positive development of Nigeria, we must not allow religion to be the defining factor when choosing our leaders. To be sensitive to religious affiliations, both the APC and PDP have fielded a Christian-Muslim ticket, therefore leaving us with the decision to choose. Pastors should encourage their flocks to choose wisely not because of a Christian Jonathan or a Muslim Buhari, but because they want a better Nigeria.
Back to the “Islamization” thing. What plans have CAN put in place to effectively “evangelise” the North and beyond? Are we winning souls for Christ through acts of charity, sacrifice, unity and peace?
What has become of the missionary mandate of our Lord to us in Matt. 28 to go into the whole world to preach and baptize in His name? What we see today is our men of God becoming richest citizens who own private jets, trade blessings for prosperity, control large business empires with initiatives that do not have evangelisation agenda. Tell me, when we go in romance with worldliness, are we not leaving our faithful to the whims of strange doctrines and possible “Islamization”? Who is Islamizing who in the long run, then
See also what divisions have done to us Christians.
Today, my Catholic faith is criticized by my brethren in Christianity. They call it old-fashioned, spiritless, cumbersome because of kneeling and standing. They say it is cultist because of smoke of incense. They taunt it for giving Mary the Mother of Jesus a place. They say they cannot come to me a mere man to confess their sins. One could keep counting.
The times are really here when people will give heed to strange doctrines and gospels of the stomach (see 1 Timothy 6:5). It is this kind of fanatic anti-Catholic doctrines that made many Christians claim they have “seen the light”.
Having dabbled and dined with the powers that be, they want to use the same fanaticism to pitch Christians against Muslims by spreading hate messages on social media, radio, TV, etc. telling Christians of a purported “Islamization” and threatening those who will not vote a certain candidate with gates of hell.
I am surprised that the revered Bible, which they say is all and all, has not yet been used in their campaign of calumny. I thought we would be hearing things like, “the Bible says…”, “hear ye O Christians that ye shall only elect Christians into power”, or“vote ye Jonathan and the gates of hell shall be closed on you forever”. Thank goodness the Bible has gone beyond such mediocrity and bigotry.
Lest we are deceived, it is high time we did what could save Nigeria. We have suffered enough and things are not getting any better. In conscience and in truth, let us cast our vote wisely to bring leaders that will make Nigeria work.
God bless Nigeria.
Note: views expressed in this Naij.com section belong to their authors and may not coincide with inidivdual viewpoints of members of Naij.com editorial team. We believe that every Nigerian has a right to be heard and gladly offer our platform for you to voice your own opinion. Read our guide for Naij.com guest contributors, don’t hesitate to contact us at info@naij.com.
READ MORE: http://www.naij.com/384347-islamization-of-nigeria-a-real-threat-or-political-trick.html
No comments:
Post a Comment