Wednesday, 19 February 2020

DIALOGUE AND MEDIA HONESTY

DIALOGUE AND MEDIA HONESTY

Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua

 

The situation in the world today gives the impression that “power is taken and not given. Personal and religiousideologies in the media sometimes turn out to be brain washing machines to manipulate the ignorant citizens. We need media honesty given that “until the Lion learns to write; the story will always glorify the hunter.” The children will grow with prejudice and preconception if we do not expose them to the real African identity that appreciates the values of common good. We should nurture good values in our various schools through African literature and history. We need to tell our children who we ought to be as authentic Africans. We should not hide from them our failures. We should be courageous enough to tell them the areas this generation have failed and the ideals we ought to have attained. Let us give space to victims of violence to tell their stories. just the way they feel. Otherwise, they could develop anger transference syndrome. The victim of this transfer of anger could be the government and religion. To avoid this, frankness, sincerity, mutual trust and media honesty are absolutely indispensableThis should go beyond merely tellingthe truth to sincere openness that can produce authentic life. It is only honesty that can sharpen our perception to observe everything around us with objectivity. Honesty still remains the best policy. Deceit does not help any person or nation to grow gracefully. 

 

A person who is honest reveals his or her true identity, inner quality, maturity, personal growthunderstanding and acceptance. In response to my article, “How we can avoid this inferno”, Alhaji Kunle Sanni who is a respected member of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) suggests that we need to sincerely interface with Christian leaders who give the impression that Muslims are not feeling the pinch of the insurrection and bloodshed all over the landHe said that the hoodlums are not acting the scripts of any Muslim leader. He added that wshould all collaborate in condemning agents of Satan and enemies of humanity who are part of the problem andnot part of the solution. He narrated how Fatima who studied Mass communication at University of Maiduguri who was burnt to death along with thirty people who were killed by Boko Haram terrorists at the village of AunoBorno in February, 2020. Boko Haram did not ask about her faith before killing herAlhaji Kunle Sanni cautioned that we should not allow selfish, unpatriotic and corrupt individuals to divide us along ethno-religious lines. He endorsed the idea that Christians and Muslims could have joint prayer protest against terrorists andkidnappers.

 

To enhance this united proposal, NIREC appeals to those who make statements or write in the name of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Nigeria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) to defend the victims of violence and speak truth to power instead of creating media war against each other. During the round table conference organized by KONRAD ADENAUER STIFTUNG from Germany on 18thFebruary, 2020 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, His Royal Highness, Prof. Sani Abubakar Lugga, the Waziri (Prime Minister) of Katsina Emirate of Nigeria reported his encounter and interview with some Boko Haram members. According to Prof. Lugga, most members of the Boko Haram terrorist organization are youths who were political thugs. They kill 99% of ordinary people. It is only when a prominent person is killed that alarm is raised on the media. He lamented that the ordinary people in Nigeria are not protected. So many people are now internally displaced. He said that we should stop blaming religion for the insurgency. Let those who profess religion be truly and interiorly converted to the Almighty God. 

 

Barrister Joseph Bade Daramola, the Acting General Secretary of the Christian Association of Nigeria traced the root cause of division between Christians and Muslims and the attendant mutual suspicion to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria where Sharia is mentioned 73 times, Islam, 28 times, Grand Kadi, 54 times, Muslim, 10 times and no mention of Christian, Church, Jesus and Christianity.  He said that another threat to the unity of Nigeria is lack of respect for federal characterAll these appear to be giving the impression of double constitutions in some States of NigeriaUstaz Abubakr S. Muhammad who represented the Secretary General of the NSCIA was surprised that Barrister Daramola quoted from the video that has gone virile in social media. He responded that the constitution was not written by one person and wondered why the Christians who were present at the committee of the constitution drafting and review allowed this to happenHe appealed that we should not give the impression that the government is trying to eliminate one religion for the otherHeappealed that we should together fight and condemn the terrorists who violate the mainstream Islam.

 

Dr. Ahmed Jibril Suleiman, Department of Public LawAhmaduBello University, Zaria revealed that Sharia was practiced in the Northern part of Nigeria before the advent of the Nigerian Constitution and IndependenceThis implies that Nigerians canlive in peace and harmony by allowing Muslims to privately use the Sharia while Christians should privately use their ecclesiastical laws without interference of governmentA critical and objective reading would make the reader think that the Sharia is copied from books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy of the Holy BibleEvery religion has commandments, rules and regulations to guide adherents to live happily, orderly and peacefully on earth. The essence of law is social coherence just as the essence of Canon law of the Catholic Church is Salvation of Souls. Any law that does not promote human dignity is evil and does not come from God. Religious laws are like compass that takes the sailor to a safe shore. The letter and spirit of the law need to enhance peaceful coexistence by deterring criminals from violating human rights. 

 

Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, Head of the Directorate of Research and Policy Analysis, Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution believed that these problems could be resolved if religion can reconnect people to the grassroots. Osai Ojigho, Director, Amnesty International, Nigeria is of the opinion that the key role of religion is to be the voice of the voiceless on earthLet us be true to one another and let the Political leaders demonstrate that they prefer the common good to ethnic and religious bias.Leaders must talk in wisdom and mean what they say. According to Saint James, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. With the tongue we praise God, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be (James 3: 3-11). Those who use the media should pray for wisdom that comes from heaven. Journalists and those who communicate through the media should endeavour to be peacemakers who sow in peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

 

Rev. Fr. Cornelius Omonokhua is the Executive Secretary of Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC -nirec.ng@gmail.com) & The Secretary General of the West Africa Inter-Religious Council (WA-IRC – wairc.rfp@gmail.com).

 

Monday, 17 February 2020

INTER-RELIGIOUS PATIENCE FOR PEACE

INTER-RELIGIOUS PATIENCE FOR PEACE 

Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua

 

Let the publications and counter publications of enthusiastic Christians and Muslims in print and social media echo the cry from the heart of victims of violence who are longing for justice and good governance rather than inter-religious antagonism. Let those who talk and write on behalf of Christians and Muslims do so as the voice that cries from the wilderness to call people to prepare the way of the Lord and make his paths straight (Isaiah 40:3; John 1:43). On Friday, February 14, 2020, my friend and partner in dialogue, Alhaji Kunle Sanni sent me a link onChristianization and Islamization. Permit me to quote a few of the conversation. “By the operational method of Christians, it is actually us that want to convert Nigeria to a Christian state and not the Muslims. As I speak now, there are Pastors in the innermost part of Northern Nigeria on Mission efforts being funded by the Church” (@olusogaowoeye). Here are some responses to the assertion of Olusoga Owoeye“Absolutely very correct. I have said this time and time again. We are the ones who force morning devotion in our offices, business places, schools, hospital etc (@abneroke). “Are they doing it with government fund” (@leahsharib). “Hmmm, are you saying our Muslim brothers do not have agenda for converting people to the Muslim faith in Nigeria (@ijijianthony)? These are just toillustrate how far our fundamentalists and fanatics are succeeding in causing religious tension in our nation. The truth is that both Christians and Muslims have the evangelical mandate to proclaim their religions not just to convert others from one religion to the other but to make people have interior conversion to do the will of God and become better human beings

 

If through religious mission everybody submits to the will of God in obedience, the love and fear of God would restrain any converted person to kill a human being in the name of God. To live in peace, social cohesion and justice, the leaders of the two Principal ReligionsIslam and Christianity in Nigeria voluntarily decided to come together to form the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council on the 11th day of September, 1999, and the association having been inaugurated on the 29th day of September, 1999; guided by divine regulations and the dictates of our Creator, determined, within the context of our religions, to forge inter-religions harmony and concord. The Religious leaders put inplace a constitution in these words: “Having firmly and solemnly resolved, within the confines of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to live in unity, harmony and peace for the welfare, security and prosperity of our people and our Nation under God. Do hereby make, enact and give to ourselves this Constitution to guide and direct our collective endeavors (Constitution of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, NIREC; Preamble).  

 

The objectives of NIREC are “To honestly and sincerely endeavour by themselves and through them, their followership, to understand the true teachings of the two religions, Christianityand Islam including their peculiarities and personal mannerisms through dialogue, discussions, work-shops, seminars, conference, pamphleteering etc.” “To create a permanent and sustainable channel of communication and interaction thereby promoting dialogue between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria so that the members of both faiths may have mutual understanding of each other’s religious position, and generally promote harmony, inculcate co-existence among all the people of Nigeria irrespective of their religious or ethnic affiliations.” “To promote and inculcate moral, ethical, social and cultural values of the two faiths for the rebirth and rebuilding of a better society.” “To provide a forum for mutual co-operation and promotion of the welfare of all citizens in the nation” (Constitution of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council, NIREC, Article 3)

 

If every Christian and Muslim take NIREC as a nexus to assist the Political leaders to promote good governance in justice that is necessary to provide for peaceful coexistence, then Christians and Muslims need a meeting point outside the newspapers and social media to discuss the way forward. This is why the office of NIREC is appealing to Christian and Muslim journalists who claim to be talking and writing in the name of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Nigeria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) to be patient and consider the feelings of the other in their utterances and publication. Given that CAN and NSCIA forms NIREC, the issues that affects both religions could wait for discussion during NIREC meeting. If there is urgency, the issues could be presented to the two co-chairmen of NIREC for deliberation. That the government funds NIREC meetings is a sign that the political leaders would have the political will to accept the recommendations of the council. The case when Christian would defend the government because a Christian is in power or a Muslim would defend government because a Muslim is in power contradicts the intention of the founding fathers of NIRECWe should be able to speak truth to power as the voice of the voiceless given that the political leaders are either Christians or Muslims. What we need is common action and not fanaticism. 

 

We have credible Nigerians who can make this nation a great country if we can control our religious and ethnic sentiments. We need leaders who can deliver on their political promises. It does not matter where the leader comes from. The Muslims believe that Islam is a religion of peace while Christians believe that Jesus is the Prince of peace. It therefore means that we need a Nigeria that is Christianized and Islamized. If that happens, it would be a farewell party to terrorism, kidnapping, religious bigotry, ethnic and religious discrimination. Then Federal character, the rule of law, efficiency and professionalism wouldbe respected. Then the Army, Police and all security agents will have less work to do in terms of fighting internal insurrection. Then the young graduates would not need a letter from a Senator or a high placed person to get a job. Honestly, I am praying that Nigeria should be Christianized and Islamized without spending government money to fund any particular religion. The government could fund joint actions for peace not at the expense of one tribe or religion. 

 

Let us say and write what can bring about peaceful co-existencewhere righteousness will be the belt around our hips, and faithfulness the sash around our waist. We need a nation where the wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie downwith the goat; the calf and young lion and fatling will be together, and a little child will lead them. We need the political will to produce a nation where the cow will graze with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox (Isaiah 11:5-7)May God arbitrate for us to beat our swords into plowshares and our spears into pruning hooks. May Nation no longer take up the sword against nation, nor train anymore for war (Isaiah 2:4). May the Spirit of God possess our hearts! May God give us the patience we need to deliberate on common concerns that can make peace flow like a river. The peace that would flow from each of us into the desert and forest to give freedom to captives who are still with the kidnappers and the terrorists. May all who have been killed by the terrorists and kidnappers find peace with God! May the Peace of Almighty God be with you!

Rev. Fr. Cornelius Omonokhua is the Executive Secretary of Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC -nirec.ng@gmail.com) & The Secretary General of the West Africa Inter-Religious Council (WA-IRC – wairc.rfp@gmail.com).