Date Published: 01/12/10

Re-The Effect of Religion on the Political Process (Conclusion) by Nester Komolafe By Nester Komolafe

“In Nigeria, religious conflicts are only regarded as riots or insurgencies. If lessons of the global radical Jihadists are anything of concern, radical Jihadists in Nigeria will soon resort to suicide bombings to fulfill their quest as martyrs ….then it will be upgraded from riot or insurgency to terrorism. Nigeria as a nation has a choice to prevent this from happening” - Nester Komolafe

The above are my words in my previous article published on www.nigeriaworld.com on December 1, 2009. T he article gave commentaries on a book (The Effect of Religion on the Political Process by Professor Femi Ajayi). The book discusses proceedings on Sharia law (Islamic law) with a focus on the agitation for and against the establishment of Federal Sharia Court of Appeal in the Nigerian Constitution during the Constituent Assembly debates of 1978/79 and 1988/89 . In the article, I used Professor Femi Ajayi’s analyses in the book to interconnect the Nigeria's case with the global religion intolerance championed by networks of radical Islamic Jihadists. I was about to post the concluding part of the article when the news broke on the Christmas Day of 2009 that a 23-year old Nigerian-born Muslim - Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab attempted to detonate an explosive device inside a Detroit-bound Northwest Airline Flight 253 from Amsterdam. God prevented the bomb from exploding even before some brave passengers jumped on Umar. Indeed, God spared the lives of the 278 passengers and 11 crew members aboard…when human Intelligence/Security Agencies failed to “connect the dots”.

Although, this article is not about Umar Abdulmutallab; unlike many, I am not for once surprised that a Nigerian could become a suicide bomber. The terrorism parameters are there in the Northern part of the country; many Nigerians who are surprised may not have paid adequate attention to the ethno-religious fabric of the body politic of Nigeria or perhaps could merely see all the recent Islamic riots in the North as religious sectarian conflicts in isolation, without interlocking them with the ever increasing global radical Islamic Jihadist movement. Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab may not have acquired his Islamic knowledge in Nigeria but he happens to be the first Nigerian to shamefully elevate the saturated local riots to an act of international Islamic terrorism. I do not need to be politically correct; it was Islamic in nature because he attempted a one-man Jihad in the name of his Islamic faith not in the name of Nigeria. He was reported to have received “bombing instructions” from Al Qaeda in Yemen but was kitted in Nigeria for an eventual onslaught on an American airspace. Right now, the danger of radical Islamism in Nigeria is no longer an issue that can be waived aside. Also, suicide bombing Christians (if they exist) must not be waived aside.

Sequel to part 1of this article, Prof. Ajayi’s book has given well-researched insights into what religion intolerance portends for the future of Nigeria, especially if Nigerian politicians and religious leaders remain divided over the agitation for or against the expansion of Sharia law in the Nigerian Constitution.

Part of the reasons for Sharia, according to its proponents is that the Common law in Nigerian legal system is for Christians. Unlike Sharia which is an exclusive Islamic law incorporated into Nigerian legal system, there is no exclusive Christian law in Nigerian legal system. To say that Common law is Christian law is a fallacy, although part of Common law is inspired by some Judeo-Christian doctrines as enshrined in the Canon law. In many fronts, Canon law is not the same as Common law. For example, Canon laws are based on principles of faith while the Common law system is generally based on a judge applying precedents. More so, Canon law is not for all Christians, it is applicable though in different forms to some Churches like the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Anglican; other Christian denominations in Nigeria have their bye laws which are established to exclusively govern their ministries and parishioners, and not the entire citizenry of the country. The only set of laws that binds the Christendom is the Ten Commandments. Interestingly, Common, Sharia and Canon laws all have some of their roots in the ancient law systems like the Ten Commandments.

Despite the adoption of Sharia law in the North, how are we sure of fairness in dispensing justice? Who does not know that some Northern Muslim politicians and their acolytes fall short of upholding the same principles of Sharia they yearn? There are some of them on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC ) “high profile cases” list that are facing charges for alleged fraud with millions or billions of public funds, this is stealing - forbidden under Sharia, yet their hands are not chopped off; only the hands of poor petty thieves are available for amputations. What a big time hypocrisy! Of course the rich Muslim frauds and fornicators will not want to be tried under Sharia law. Today, if a Muslim woman is convicted of adultery under Sharia, will she be spared stoning to death?

My hope is that future Constituent Assembly debates should eschew religious issues that are capable of derailing the corporate existence of the country. Otherwise, the pro-Sharia Muslims will always accuse the opposition of ignorance, prejudice and intolerance. They will say Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance, and therefore all who oppose Sharia may be referred to as being Islamophobic.

Even by hypothesis, let us say that Nigeria eventually becomes an Islamic State with Sharia as the sole legal system. The question is: what will happen to all non-Muslims in Nigeria? The answer is not far-fetched. In Islamic conquest, there could be four options:

Kill: (Through violent Jihad)    Die: (Jihadists as Martyrs),

Convert: (Forceful submission of non-Muslims)      Dhimmitude: (Protected slavery).

Is this the shape of a future Nigeria under Sharia - a Federal Islamic Sultanate of Nigeria? Will it bring peace and unity to the country? Any Nigerian who followed the controversial Nigeria’s membership of OIC in 1986 will understand what I am saying. You can read more from the Professor’s book.

As in the case of Umar Abdulmutallab, his intention was likely to kill almost 289 people (Muslims and non-Muslims alike) and die as a Martyr. Some fanatical Muslims, politicians and clerics in the North may want to convert Nigeria into an Islamic State and politically enslave non-Muslims. Is this nation building?

There is nothing to fear, many non-Muslims in Nigeria believe some Muslims can co-exist peacefully in the name of one God and one nation. In spite of this, if it appears that small minorities of radical Muslims with support from some Northern politicians and possible funds from Saudi Arabia wish to force Islam on the entire nation, then, the non-Muslims in Nigeria must be watchful. If they are not, will it interest non-Muslims in Nigeria that Saudi Arabia appears likely to regard Nigeria more as an Islamic State than a secular State? – Again, the parameters are there for anyone to consider. However, because of the silence or reluctance of the moderate Muslims to openly stop or condemn the radicals, it is very difficult to know who the Moderates are. While the radical Islamic extremists are known worldwide, how do we know the moderate Muslims? When Islam speaks of “peace,” is it defined in a World under Islamic rule only? Who among these groups (Moderates and Radicals/Extremists) will interpret the true meaning of Islam to us?

It is not by accident that Muslims in Southern Nigeria are less likely to act violently against the society. It is because of the predominant native culture which does not have much bearing with religion coupled with the Western education they imbibed. The same cannot be said about the Muslims in the North because one can hardly separate their culture from Islam despite Western or Islamic education. This explains why any non-Muslim in the North may be regarded easily as an infidel.

Any ethnic locality in Nigeria with the propensity for ethno-religious riots may not be a safe place for many non-indigenes in that location. Your citizenship as a Nigerian may not matter during the riots, what counts most is your religious affiliation. I had the experience of living in an atmosphere of fear and insecurity in Yola in 1992. As a Physics Lecturer in the Federal University of Science and Technology, I lived on Campus but because I was also a part-time Science Lecturer at the Adamawa State School of Nursing and Midwifery in Yola, I often times commuted between the campus which is on the outskirts of Yola, and the main town Jimeta-Yola. I was always reminded by peace-loving Muslims that I must always carry enough money and some valuables with me every time I was out of my residence. Why? Because should there be a religious riot like the Maitatsine religious upheavals that happened in Yola in 1984, I should never think of going back home, rather I should find an escape route out of Yola.  This advice was premised on the theory that many of the fanatics knew us the “Western-educated Southerners/non-Muslims” therefore, once riot breaks, any of us returning to his/her residence for solace may be at risk of being ambushed and killed. I carried a small shoulder bag for most of my stay in Yola ready for an instant escape should a riot break. Happily, there was no religious riot throughout my stay in Yola but the fear of an imminent riot was psychologically too devastating for my psyche. I am sure many non-indigenes or non-Muslims in the North may be living in such condition I described above. This is not a good way to coexist in Nigeria when you are deemed a “foreigner” in Nigeria if you do not live in your own ethnic region.

At this moment when almost everything in Nigeria is bending toward the arc of national illogicality, religion intolerance appears to be a catalyst that may fast-track the plunge of the country into the oblivion.  It is evident that nearly every federal government policy is based on Muslim–Christian point of view coupled with North-South dichotomy. Too sad, I have been following the ploy by some politicians in the North attempting to circumspect the Constitution with a view to denying Vice President Goodluck Jonathan of becoming the President in the event of President Yar'Adua resignation or death (I wish President Yar’Adua quick recovery though). This is a pointer to ethno-religious egotism in Nigeria. Politicians see power through ethnicity and religion perspectives and it is always North vs. South or Muslims vs. Christians.

Some solutions to religion intolerance in Nigeria: There is hope, the hope lies in a simple ritual of self-realization for every Nigerian to effectively grab the essence of a peaceful co-existence and learn how to tolerate his or her neighbors irrespective of religion, ethnicity or gender. The basis for commonalities already exists in Islam and Christianity. The foundational principles in both faiths are premised on love of the One God, and love of the neighbor…so why the hate and conflicts? I ask again, when Islam speaks of “peace,” is it defined in a World under Islamic rule only?

Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: "None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself” (No 13 of Imam An-Nawawi’s forty Hadiths). This can be paraphrased as “None of you has faith until you love for your neighbor what you love for yourself”.

Jesus Christ said: “Thou shall love The Lord they God with all your heart ...thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself; there is none other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:29-31)

Of One God, God says in the Holy Qur'an: He is God, the One! / None is like Him (Al-Ikhlas 112:1-4 ). The Holy Bible says: “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else” (Isaiah 45:22)

Both Christians and Muslims must explore the common grounds of love for God and love for neighbors as described in the Holy Books. Both could use their faiths to genuinely reflect love for God and for one another. Also, another way to stop future religious terrorism in Nigeria is to honestly talk about why the previous religious riots happened – there must be an increase in ecumenical dialogues to reshape relations between Muslims North and Christians South. For the corporate existence of Nigeria to stay intact, Christians and Muslims must make sacrifices to keep Nigeria together as one nation. It is clear that religion and ethnicity are inseparable in Nigerian political process, hence, the political class and government must develop policies that will foster inter-faith tolerance for the sake of the country.

Moderate Muslims in Nigeria must be able to de-radicalize the militant Islamists; otherwise, who else can do it? The Islamic fanatics should take a cue from the recent New Jihad Code that forbids killing while the Islamic leader/scholars can take a cue from the commitments of Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad of Jordan who established an inter-faith movement to discuss means to global peace and stability.

Prof. Ajayi’s book may just be the “kool-aid” needed for religious tolerance in Nigeria - the review of literature that gives intellectual background to some fundamentals of ethno-religious theories, historical perspectives of past religious riots, the nature & perpetrators of various riots and the consequences thereof, the political actions or inaction of various national governments on those riots and survey findings are well encapsulated in the book. The book offers timely, clear, and astute analysis that will be valued by students and scholars of religion and Nigerian political studies and provides keen recommendations for policymakers and conflict-management practitioners.

I believe Nigeria wants to rebrand her image; if so, I would recommend Prof Femi Ajayi’s book be made a part of curriculum for Nigerian secondary school students to learn how to coexist in a plural ethno-religious Nigeria. Otherwise, Nigeria may lose the opportunities to effectively engage her youth on religion tolerance in the future. Nigerians are now witnessing how one of their youth has signed-in the country into the unsympathetic international counter-terrorism scrutiny.

Happy New Year 2010 to all my numerous readers.