RELIGIOUS CONFLICT IS AVOIDABLE

RELIGIOUS CONFLICT IS AVOIDABLE

 

Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua

On Saturday, September 19, 2014, I watched this documentary on Cable Network News (CNN) at 7.30pm: “Why   Denmark is the happiest Country in the world”. In an open field adorned with green lawn, some Denmark citizens who were having holiday fun testified to the peace and happiness in Denmark. Their joy could be described as if the Danish genes and happiness are correlated. According to some of them, people with Danish ancestry have a positive outlook on life. 

This experience that is akin to a celestial rapture has the following reasons: Domestic Products, culture, religion, trust and the welfare that is provided by government. The citizens are happy to pay their taxes because they get their needs and satisfaction from government. They work less hours and earn more because the political leaders do not use the public funds to enrich themselves. At the end of the documentary, I prayed that one day, every Nigerian would testify that Nigeria is the happiest country on earth. That one day, security and peaceful co-existence will not be very expensive. That one day, Nigerians would not prefer only the political dimension of life to professional fulfilment!  That one day, Nigerians will be content with what they have and who they are! That one day, everything would not be used as a weapon to get rid of an opponent! That Nigerians would know the value of holiday and rest! That one day, Nigerians may have happiness and joy to show for their labour and that no Nigerian May sweat in vain!

It appears that a good number of Nigerians are losing focus in addressing issues of common concerns with sincerity and frankness. The best way to build a nation is to pursue the course of truth and be objective. It is in this context that I wish to appeal to all Christians and Muslims to take contending religious issues that could cause conflict to the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) that belongs to both Christians and Muslims. Let us reflect again on the essay I published sometime ago titled:

“Debriefing Mutual Suspicions with Frankness”(page 285), in my book, Dialogue in Context: A Nigeria Experience. 

In the essay, I reported as follows: On the 28th of January, 2014, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) convened an interactive session of prominent Muslims and Christians. It was so amazing that many professors and respected Muslims from different States of the Northern part of Nigeria responded to the invitation. In that meeting, the President of CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor affirmed that he loves Muslims and the corporate existence of Nigeria. A Muslim was frank enough to tell the president of CAN that before the meeting, he had hated him with a passion but having heard him speak, his negative opinion about him had changed. Many participants were surprised to hear that the president of CAN had done a lot for many Muslims and Christians in terms of relief materials to victims of violence and terrorism.

The point I am trying to make is that meeting to sincerely dialogue enables us to tell each other frankly the way we feel about each other. This is a step towards resolving conflict.  This could also help in jointly demanding accountability from the leaders of the nation. One thing that has been a common concern is that 

the terrorists in Nigeria have never discriminated against Muslims and Christians in their mayhem and onslaught. In fact, the vision of the terrorists is to cause a religious war between Muslims and Christians to disintegrate the nation. In times like this, Muslims and Christians should come together as human beings and Nigerians to save life and not emphasize religious differences. 

Late Professor (Mrs) Dora Nkem Akunyili was popularly acclaimed as a devoted and honest Christian. In most of her speeches, she testified to the honesty of Major Gen. Muhammadu Buhari who is also acclaimed by many people as a committed and honest Muslim. President Buhari and Late Dora did not belong to the same political party and religion yet they could affirm each other as sincere and honest human beings and Nigerians. 

The Cable reported that when Mrs Dora Nkem Akunyili was the Zonal Secretary (South-east) of the Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund in 1998, she returned the money meant for her surgery that she did not spend to Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF). The hospital informed the PTF, under the leadership of Major Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, about one honest Nigerian they had found. Buhari, himself a straightforward person, was very impressed. He wrote a letter to Akunyili commending her honesty”. This testimony was reported even in the funeral brochure of Late Mrs. Dora Akunyili (The Making of an Amazon, Page 14).

In any nation, religious war is avoidable if people develop healthy relationships without religious sentiments. Nigeria would do better if religion is delivered from political manipulations against the opposition. The 2015 elections showed clearly that nothing could stop a Christian from voting for a Muslim if the candidate is credible and nothing should stop a Muslim from voting for a Christian if the candidate is credible. In an ideal situation, opposition is la crème de la crèmeof politics. Religion should never be used as a weapon to destroy a political opponent. It is normal for religious leaders to be close to political leaders for spiritual support but not as politicians. 

In the Old Testament of the Bible, Prophets were close to the kings. They anoint and direct the kings as in the case of Samuel and Saul (1 Samuel 15). Samuel also directed and rebuked David (1 Samuel 16; 2 Samuel 12). Elijah could confront Ahab and Jezebel who were making life miserable for the people (1 Kings 18) because he was not a partisan politician. When the people saw the sign which Jesus had performed, they said, ‘This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.’ So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take him by force to make him king, withdrew again to the mountain by himself alone (John 6:14-15). Later he would say to Pilate, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders" (John 18:36). 

According to Canon 285 of the Code of Canon Law, clerics are to refrain from "all those things which are unbecoming to their state, according to the prescripts of particular law." In section 3 of the same code, "Clerics are forbidden to assume public offices which entail a participation in the exercise of civil power." Pope John Paul II called upon priests who hold public office to step down or resign from the clerical state. The primary duty of priests (pastors) is pastoral. What the world needs today is a priest (pastor) who is focused on his formal ministry and approachable as a minister instead of being a partisan politician.

Concerning the media debate on religious persecution, let us examine the way and manner Jesus Christ would react in words and actions. To those who physically attacked him, Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing" (Luke 23, 34). In Islam, for a Muslim to insult Jesus for any reason is haramhence the world will enjoy eternal peace if Christians and Muslims could imitate the Prince and Prophet of Peace. 

In Islam any criticism or disrespect against other prophets goes against Islamic principles (Qur’an 2:285; 2:253). Therefore, any Muslim who insults Jesus does not represent Islam or the Muslim community. Let us demonstrate this with mutual respect.

What we need now is dialogue of social engagement. It is my prayers that the God of mercy and compassion hears our cry! In the words of Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama, we need “peace not war” and in the words of John Cardinal Onaiyekan, let us work towards “founding common grounds”. We too, can be happy like the people of Denmark!

Fr. Cornelius Afebu Omonokhua is the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) and Secretary General of the West Africa Inter-Religious Council (WA-IRC)