I have been cogitating on
the persistent kvetching of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) that the
Buhari government is Islamising the country.
I
have laboured to find a remote or even an obtrusive reason for CAN’s shrieks,
which by the way, have become deafening. I must say, honestly, I have not seen
any reason to align myself with the association in this regard.
Although,
as a Christian there is a sentimental part of me that wants to jump on the
alarmist parade, and shout “Buhari is Islamising Nigeria”, I have a duty to my
conscience to resist this provincial urge.
When
the government announced the sale of N100 billion worth of Sukuk (Islamic
bonds) a few days ago, CAN hurriedly issued a statement, saying that the
government wanted to pawn the country to Arab nations. According to the
association, the current administration is accelerating the process of
Islamising the country.
I
will not dwell on the merits or de-merits of Sukuk because that has been
sufficiently treated by some writers like Ebuka Nwankwo. Before I divagate, I
must add, Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, spoke for me on the subject when he
said: “I am challenging CAN to Christianise Nigerians. Christianise us by
setting up interest-free banks”.
Now
to the meat and potatoes. The response of the Supreme Islamic Council to CAN
hit me without gloves on. It was a riposte pickled in truth.
Here
is an abridged version of the statement. “It would certainly be embarrassing
for CAN to be told that the first and foremost state in Nigeria to submit
application for loan to the Islamic Development Bank is a Christian-dominated
state in the south-east.
“This
has been the factor that made Muslims to tolerate several practices or things
that are essentially Christian in nature and outlook, in substance and form and
indeed in principle and practice, but imposed on us.
“We
have not been talking of Christianisation because Sunday has been forced on us
as a work-free day, or the Cross as our hospital sign and symbol, our
membership of the International Red Cross, and many other things including
almost all the titles of the heads of academic institutions (chancellor,
provost, dean, rector, etc.).
“Despite
this remarkable tolerance from Muslims over the years, CAN appears to be
increasingly becoming Islamophobic and paranoid about its hate and intolerance
of Islam, casting aspersions, unnecessarily overheating the polity and
unjustifiably creating fear and distrust in the minds of peace-loving citizens
of our great country.”
We
Christians must be sincere, Nigeria is a Christianised country. This is largely
due to British colonialism. Islam had made in-road into northern Nigeria by the
11th century – before Uthman Dan Fodio’s Jihad of 1804, which was the
“climactic denouement”. Borno was among the first disciples of Islam in the
11th century. There was a literate population, a well defined system of
government and codified laws. But the British yanked off a prodigious part of
this heritage, imposing its own systems which were fore-grounded in Christian
values and practices.
Please
note, that by the 11th century when Islam reached the north, the peoples of
southern Nigeria, who are mostly Christians today, were animists.
Nigeria
has carried on where the British left off with little adjustments to the Christianity-denominated
praxis.
For
example, Friday is a holy day for Muslims while Sunday is the same for most
Christians in Nigeria. But while a Muslim will go to work on a Friday, a
Christian will not go to work on a Sunday; just as it is in the UK and in most
parts of Europe. Conversely, Friday is a no-work day in most Arab countries
dominated by Muslims.
When
Arabic was introduced into secondary school curriculum, many Christian leaders
objected to it because “the language is Islam”. They forgot that English itself
is the language of our colonial masters who are mostly Christians.
We
have become so used to our Christian ways that any blip of the obverse sends
us, top gear, into panic and revulsion. This is unfair.
In
Conclusion, I believe, one of the fundamental problems with Nigeria is the
unconsented coitus between formulaic Christian ways and Muslim practices. But
we must stop this Islamisation twaddle, and seek the path of tolerance,
temperance and understanding.
MEANWHILE…
Dasuki’s unending trial
Is
the Buhari government serious about prosecuting Sambo Dasuki, former national
security adviser, for alleged $2.1 billion arms fraud? I doubt it. It is
becoming clear by the day that there is more to the Dasuki issue than meets the
eye. Since 2015, Dasuki has been on trial, but his case has not made any
progress. On Wednesday, the case did not take place as scheduled. And on
Thursday, the trial was adjourned to October 14. What is happening? I am puzzled.
Will probe report on SGF,
NIA DG ever be released?
The
Yemi Osinbajo committee set up to investigate cases of corruption involving
Babachir Lawal, suspended secretary to the government of the federation (SGF),
and Ayo Oke, suspended director-general of the National Intelligence Agency
(NIA), concluded its task in May. Five months after, the report of the
committee has not been released. What is happening? Or Have rodents which
invaded the president’s office feasted on it – according to Shehu Sani?
Twitter: @FredrickNwabufo, Facebook: Fredrick Nwabufo
Source: www.thecable.ng
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