About Kaduna, some nonsensical write-ups are currently making the rounds, calculated attempts to chain and detain progress in the dungeon of gullibility, and acquire more raffia hand fans to keep the embers of discord glowing among ethno-religious groups in the country. For this discourse, I have picked up some of the vituperations from social media against the person of Malam Nasir El-Rufa’i, executive governor of Kaduna State over recent activities and pronouncements on religion and land.
Some members of the earlier-described groups, laying claim to Christianity, have accused El-Rufa’i of religious apathy over the proposed bill to regulate public preaching in Kaduna State. They also accuse him of systematically wiping out Christianity, due to the demolition of some churches in Southern Kaduna. Their comrades from the Northern part of the country could not be outshined in the El-Rufa’i-bashing, as some even described him as an infidel over demolitions carried out in Zaria, where some mosques where allegedly affected. Not forgetting the hails of insults that greeted the banning of beggars the streets.
They wailed, they cursed, they queried. But looking at Kaduna’s history keenly, I can posit that the state has not enjoyed a decade devoid of ethno-religious conflict, since 1980. These conflicts often lead to massive losses of lives and property. Two key issues that have consistently remained as the fuel that keep the fires of discord burning in Kaduna – and most of Nigeria – are religion and land issues.
Looking at the main objective of religions, one would think that with the proliferation of houses of worship between the 80s and now, Nigeria should be a nation full of love and empathy, a nation that others crave to visit and find peace, a nation where citizens see each other as one, a nation of objective debate. But the picture today is the complete opposite of what religions should achieve. Religion that should be a preparatory platform for people to make amends and meet their God after this earthly sojourn, has become another branch of commerce, and wherever there is commerce and trade, there is always bound to be competition for customers.
Public preaching of the two foremost religions in Nigeria no longer prick on the conscience to activate self-examination, but fill the hearts of adherents, especially the most gullible amongst them, with hatred for rivals. Prominent clerics whose children live and study abroad, brainwash other people’s children and deploy them as soldiers for ‘God’. In the midst of all of these, leaders in Nigeria have shied away from the very ‘sensitive’ issue of religion. None has had the courage to put religion in check, despite the divisive and destructive tendencies of most of these groups. If there was a political will and muscle to checkmate and stop those who preach hate, we would not be contending with Boko Haram today. The sect founder didn’t just wake up with hundreds of followers, it took years of preaching his brand of religion, and those in authority were aware, but lacked courage to act.
Malam Nasir El-Rufa’i, obviously, is the only man with enough courage to attempt to put religion in check, not because he doesn’t belong to one, but to check the excesses that usually brew trouble. The proposed public preaching bill before the Kaduna State House of Assembly, if passed, would be a very welcome development in the life of our country at large. The bill does not seek to stop preachers, but to put the government in the know of such an activity, for security and the chance to put an end to hate messages. Though I do not have full detail of the bill’s content, from the summary I have seen, it does not spell out that Christians or Muslims must apply before preaching in public: It says all religious organizations.
Courage is what separates real warriors from pretenders, not muscle. Malam Nasir El-Rufa’i has just displayed courage that is rare in our clime today, where hypocrisy is quickly greeted with cheers. The steps he has taken on addressing religious and land issues will go a long way to foster peace in Kaduna State. Though people with sinister motives have gone to town interpreting these intentions in their own mischievous way, on the long run the light would shine for all to see.
The current negative reactions are not any different from the kind that greeted his actions as FCT minister, but a few years after he left the FCT, people began to wish he was still around, as the city started crumbling once more. I feel for all those whose property were affected by the demolitions in Zaria and Southern Kaduna, but again, you can’t make an omelet without breaking some eggs. Intending developers should seek adequate information from government before acquiring land anywhere, and get approved plans before building. Looking back to those demolition years in the FCT, I remember sighting El-Rufa’i in person for the first time, at Wuse Warket with a retinue of security personnel. Filled with anger then, out of ignorance, I said in Pidgin English: “Na dis small man dey scatter everybody so?” And here we are today.
Ajeh wrote in from Kaduna.
