The South-West chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Magnus Atilade, spoke with Sunday Oguntola on the Osun schools merger policy and sundry issues affecting Christianity in Nigeria. Excerpts:
Just some few days ago, you were part of the Christian delegation that held a private meeting with the Osun State governor over the policy on mergers of schools. What did you come away with?
Well, we thank God for the opportunity to meet and brainstorm with the governor. We have been able to sort out some of the grey areas. On dressing, we agreed that the students should have uniforms that will unite, not divide them based on religious identities. That is the essence of having school uniforms; it would be wrong to make them feel different from the others because of religion.
We don’t want to have religious bigots right from secondary school days. Those of us who are adults have friends from other religions and we relate well. So, why do we want our children not to follow suit? Whatever will accentuate our differences should be removed.
We have told the governor we want the use of hijab as parts of uniforms in Christian mission schools to be stopped. In the public schools, the students can put on whatever is considered appropriate but not in Christian mission schools.
Has the governor agreed to that?
Well, we are still talking and negotiating. You see this kind of meeting cannot be one-off. It’s still an ongoing process. The process has already started.
What else did you raise with the governor?
We also discussed the return of mission schools to their original owners. Lagos did it and we can see the differences. All the cries wouldn’t have arisen had the schools been run by their original owners.
What is the governor’s disposition to this?
Well, I will not want to speculate. I will just say again that we are still negotiating on this.
You have been very close to the governor long before he was elected. Does he strike you as someone with a capacity for religious fundamentalism as he has been accused of?
Deep within me, I don’t suspect or believe that he has any leaning towards religious fundamentalism. We have both been socialists for a long time and related as such. As socialists, we differentiate between religion and politics. The two do not mix at all. That is why I took up this case seriously.
I believe that he has good intentions and the people of Osun can testify that he has developed the state. Yes, nobody is perfect and when someone comes up with a decision that has negative impacts or reactions, one must be able to reverse it. Osun has always been peaceful.
Former Governor Bisi Akande ruled the state without any problem. We had a Christian-Christian ticket during the Oyinlola’s years and there was no problem. Why is it that it is now with all the developments we have seen that the state is witnessing this crisis? I believe that this crisis is very unnecessary and it should not be able to fester. That is why we intervened that anything that will disturb the peace should not be allowed, for any reason.
Osun State government has always insisted that the opposition is fanning the ember of religious crisis. Do you agree with this?
They can fan only what has been planted. The governor should not give them an opportunity to discredit his good works or fan the ember of crisis. As close as I am to the governor, our friendship and comradeship will end once I suspect he is trying to injure his faith. I will continue to love and support him as long as he does not act against my faith while I won’t dare do anything against his religion too. In the same vein, I will not want any Christian governor to harm the Islamic faith.
What would be your message to Christians in Osun who have believed rightly or wrongly that there seems to be an agenda against them?
My message would be that they should be calm, patient and be peaceful until this process that has been initiated is concluded. They should believe we are working things out and everything will be fine sooner than they expect. We have to be vigilant and be prayerful. We have to maintain a process where we can always dialogue. We should never close the doors against one another.
There are things in the pipeline that will sort the crisis out. For example, as soon as the governor is able to provide schools, those students who want to be in public schools can move there while those who want to be in mission schools can remain.
The killings and persecutions of Christians up north continue unabated. Isn’t there something that can be done?
It is appalling that people are just being killed because they belong to another religion. If Christians do it, I will say it is wrong. If it is against Christians, it is wrong. This insurgency is something that government must tackle headlong. Aside from the religious angle, just the act of killing is condemnable and illegal, against every sense of reasoning.
I think we must all stand against it. Muslims must speak out now before it is too late. On our part, we are building coalitions with Muslims to speak out against this evil. Last week, we held a meeting with Al-Mustapha. We are planning to meet the Sultan and former President Babangida. We must all stand and speak against killing, for any reason.
Just some days ago, former Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari, for the first time, spoke against Boko Haram. That is the way others should go. Prominent Muslims must speak out and let these guys know they are giving the religion a bad name and image.
Are you worried that religion is taking the front burner in the run-off to the 2015 elections?
Well, I think we have to be careful not to promote injustice against any religion. Most people are crying foul now because they sense that one religion seems to be having an edge every time over the others. That is why some of us are saying we want a Christian governor in Lagos because since the return of democracy, no Christian has ruled the state. If it is not by design, let’s have something different. It’s just the cry of balance and justice that are promoting these cries.
Does it matter what religion one belongs to when it comes to governance?
It matters to an extent as long as there is open, level playing field. But we want to admit that Christians shot ourselves in the foot when we stayed away from politics. We should move in and reform politics.
If elective offices are ceded to Christians, can the church agree on candidacy?
Yes, we can and that is what we are doing. We want candidates to come forward for screening and we can produce the best that will be acceptable and has the fear of God as well as the love of the people to deliver.
What is the situation with the peace talks over Lagos CAN?
The crisis has been on now for like 18 years. Both parties have realised that this is not doing anybody any good. This crisis must be resolved now. The people involved are getting tired themselves. So, we are still in talks to reform things. We want new people who can run the body since both sides cannot resolve the crisis. We might conduct elections very soon.
How soon?
You know the church is a conservative organisation. So, I cannot confirm when the talks will be over. But we are at it and we would soon overcome.
