Nigeria is a beautiful, multiethnic, and multireligious state with over 200 million people. Islam and Christianity are the two main religions in the nation, and both promote the peace, unity, and stability of the nation.
Insecurity is one of the biggest problems Nigeria is dealing with, and the country’s ongoing religious turmoil has a significant impact on this issue. Many individuals have died as a result of attempts to split the nation along ideological lines.
Nigerians of all ages have sung the national anthem more and more frequently without making a lifelong commitment to the nation’s unity, peace, and progress, which are praised in it. This must stop; it’s alarming. It is so horrible that they are just able to say the words while their hearts are unable to put them into action. Because of this, people no longer have a sense of patriotism in the country.
Politics and religion must be kept apart since each is a distinct entity. Religious leaders from both faiths have renounced their religions’ precepts against greed, prejudice, and all other sorts of contradicting knowledge. Clerics are increasingly more likely to hold their own opinions and force their followers to adopt them, telling them not to support candidates from other religions. It’s not good.
News FCT Muslim pilgrims’ board director assumes duty
ECOWAS raises concern over use of fake news ahead of Nigeria polls
Divisional ideologies of this kind cannot be tolerated by a nation that is struggling to keep the peace at all costs because they will do more harm than good.
If this is done, the religious crisis that we all want to stop will not be resolved as quickly. Religious crises don’t come and go quickly, which would leave a lot of people homeless and cause a lot of deaths. Clerics must quit pressurising their followers to cast ballots for their chosen candidates in order to give the populace the freedom to select the politicians who would benefit their community.
No matter what faith candidates may adhere to, everyone must be permitted to cast a ballot for the one they like. Voting for candidates that would respect their mandates, provide peace to the country, and inculcate a fear of God in people is something that these religious leaders ought to be urging people to do, and not otherwise.
Regardless of our location, tribe, or region, we are all Nigerians. Credible leaders who can take this country to new heights are what we desperately need right now. Instead of voting for division and hatred, let’s all vote for peace and prosperity.
Abdullahi Abdulqudus, Department of Mass Communication, Bayero University Kano
Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.
