The Nation Newspaper

Tag: religious

  • El-Rufai’s Religious Preaching Law

    SIR: The planned introduction of ‘A Bill for a Law to Substitute the Kaduna State Religious Preaching Law, 1984.’ has spread consternation throughout Kaduna State.  The Bill has generated a lot of fretfulness and upheaval. It contains sections that seek to establish committees of the two major religious bodies in the state; the Committee of Jama’atu Nasir Islam (JNI) for the Muslims and the Committee of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for the Christians and their respective composition, and a third body called “the Inter-faith Ministerial Committee”, which shall execute regulatory control over the JNI and CAN committees.

    I am convinced that Governor Nasir El-Rufai and his cabinet’s decision to introduce this bill seem to have been marked by an unprecedented “faith” in the law to help in curbing religious bigotry and radicalization which have caused global turmoil with Nigeria greatly affected.

    In a multi-religious republic like Nigeria where members of one religious group are raised to view some other group’s beliefs or practices as wrong, mistaken, or undesirable, legislating religion is an uphill task, regardless of any intent and purpose. Discussions that bother on freedom of religion and belief are overly complex. Conflicts between citizens often arise in the interpretation and application of the law.

    As individuals, we might dispute or deny the fact that Nigeria is a country where most people find it toilsome to practice their faiths without persecution, even though religious freedom is stipulated by the extant law to be a constitutional right. Unfortunately, no courts or political leaders in Nigeria have given serious analytical attention to what counts as “Religious Freedom”.  While behind the veil of campaign some politicians make promises to protect citizens with an equal liberty of conscience but when sworn into office, they are likely to suppress solutions when it does not favor their own cultural interests and interpretation of religion, even if it is the all-time solution to the crises in a context. The jurisprudence regarding religious exemptions to generally applicable laws is clearly still in flux, providing an uneven and uncertain patchwork of protections to religious adherents. This is a governmental incompetence in need of remedy.

    Governor El-Rufai, a man who himself has been in the eye of the storm of religious issues in the past, frames his decision to pursue the passage of the bill around the excuse of state toleration of religion, as opposed to toleration in interpersonal relations.

    Regulation of religious beliefs has always generated controversy. Governor El-Rufai should know that he is flirting with an idea that might threaten public safety, peace and order. Controversy will arise when a law is generally applicable and religiously neutral but nevertheless has the accidental or unintentional effect of interfering with a particular religious practice or belief. For example, section 9 which seeks to criminalize preaching without licence, will infringe on the constitutional right of a Christian who decides to follow the biblical commandment of Jesus Christ to ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation”.  I speak as a Christian since that is where my religious knowledge lies. I have no doubt some sections might affect the constitutional rights of our Muslims populace.

    Religion is one of the few systems of belief that actually gives effect to convictions about morality and conscience. What Governor El-Rufai and his team should look into are initiatives that are balanced, between law and religion that encourage tolerance in interpersonal relations. The rights of individuals and groups have been protected by the constitution. All they need do is enforce it.

    The constitution does not deem any religion in Nigeria wrong, mistaken, or undesirable. The freedom to carry out injunctions of our chosen religions as Nigerians should be backed by some degree of government accommodation of religious practices and not to further abuse it.

     

    • David Dimas,

    Laurel, Maryland, U.S.A

  • Lagos to organise religious conference

    Lagos to organise religious conference

    The Lagos State government will in July organise an inter-religious conference to foster unity, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode said at the weekend.

    The governor, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Mrs. Grace Oladimeji, said his administration was determined to promote religious harmony.

    He spoke at the 20th Convention Annual Anniversary of the Overcomers Pentecostal Prayer Ministry, with the theme: ‘God of Abraham’, held at the church auditorium in Abule-Egba, Lagos.

    Ambode said the National Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) meets regularly to promote unity and understanding between Christians and Muslims.

    He added: “This is why there is peace between Christians and Muslims in this state.”

    The governor hailed Dr. Sam Ogedengbe for weathering the storm since establishing the church 20 years ago.

    He said Ogedengbe; the senior special assistant to ex-Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola on Religion (Christian) should be praised for promoting unity.

    Ogedengbe, the national president of the All Christian Leaders & Ministers’ Forum (ACLMF), thanked those who stood by him since the establishment of the church.

    Ambode’s Chief of Staff Olukunle Ojo and Senator Gbenga Ashafa were some of the awardees at the event.

  • Nigeria’s joining Islamic coalition not religious, says minister

    Nigeria’s joining Islamic coalition not religious, says minister

    Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama has said Nigeria’s membership of the Islamic coalition against terror has nothing to do with religion.

    The minister, yesterday, blamed the media for not being “responsible” enough in the presentation of their reports.

    Rather than dwelling on the religious perspective, the minister said the media ought to be more interested in the objectives of the coalition.

    Speaking with State House correspondents after a meeting with Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Onyeama noted that terrorism is a global phenomenon and Nigeria would support any move to deal with it.

    He said the Islamic countries were uncomfortable with the perception that terrorism is Islamic and want to show that it is not the case.

    The minister noted that the coalition wants to show that terrorists do not speak for Islam and that nothing in Islamic teaching encourages terrorism.

    On the reservation expressed by some on Nigeria’s membership of the Islamic coalition, he said: “What I say first of all is that you guys in the media have to be more responsible in the way you present news. First and foremost, get your facts right.

    “It has nothing to do with religion as far as Nigeria is concerned. We have to look at what the objective is. We face terror challenges and its a global phenomenon.

    “Unfortunately, the problem we have today is that some of the terrorists groups are claiming some of the things they are doing is in the name of a particular religion and it is clear to everybody that this is not the case, which is obviously a concern to people of Islamic faith and Islamic countries that their religion should be so abused.

    “So, there is naturally a tendency to show that this has nothing to do with Islam. Terrorism has nothing to do with Islam. Islamic countries, Islamic people want to be seen as being in the forefront of the battle against these terrorists to show also that it has absolutely nothing to do with religion.

    “That’s what this is all about. So, we are supporting every move to achieve this, to disabuse people’s minds that some of these terrorists are speaking in the name of Islam or are Islamic or that there’s anything about Islamic teaching that somehow condones these barbaric actions.

    “I think it’s something we should all get together and we should all support whoever is working towards it. And that’s what this coalition is for, to show too that we are a Muslim country, we are Muslims and these people do not speak for islam, have nothing to do with islam.

    “Most of the victims of these people are Muslims if you look at it. So, that’s what it is.

    “It has nothing to do with Nigeria, Christianity, Islam. I think the media should really get the main message across,” he added.

  • Religious organisations and road safety education

    The World Health Organisation Reports revealed that about 1.4 million deaths and over 50 million injuries are attributed to road accidents every year globally with most of them occurring in African Countries (including Nigeria).

    Nigeria was recently ranked as the third country with the highest rate of accidents and fatalities among 193 countries and thereby declared one of the most dangerous countries to drive in the world.

    The above – mentioned status reports on Road Safety in Nigeria are worrisome and embarrassing thereby calling for drastic and down to earth proactive measures to effectively combat the menace.

    The death of a single person in a road accident has psychological, social, and economic effects on other road users, family members, Religious institutions, service providers, business organisation and governments.

    One of the effective proactive measures I want to encourage here is that all religious organisations should get more involved in road safety education in their assemblies.

    It has become more expedient now than ever for all Religious Organisations to be exposed to comprehensive education in Pedestrians safety, safe riding techniques, causes of road accidents and the rules for safe driving.

    Organising programmes on road safety on other days outside the regular worship time can never be as effective and well attended as having the lectures during the regular worship days. That is, religious organisations should have periodic lectures on road safety issues in place of the normal sermon (sermon – time in Churches, Mosques and other popular and well – attended religious gathering).

    Religious organisations must get more committed to reducing the number of widows, widowers, orphans and dependants through the reduction of the number of deaths and injuries on Nigerian roads by organising and supporting public education programmes on Road Safety in every part of Nigeria.

    The Federal Road Safety Commission and the Association of Driving Instructors of Nigeria (a coalition of driving schools in Nigeria) are willing and equipped to assist the religious organisations in providing quality road safety education to their congregation in any part of the country.

    We shall all give account of our actions and inactions concerning the prevention of deaths and injuries on Nigeria roads. A stitch in time saves nine.

  • ‘Eschew religious discrimination’

    The National Coordinator of the O’odua People’s Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams has urged the Yoruba to be wary of crises in the northern Nigeria. He also advised them to shun religious discrimination to avert similar crisis in Yoruba land.

    Adams said this while speaking with journalists shortly after delivering a speech at the Oro-ebedi Festival at Iseyin, Oyo State.

    According to him, there was the need to identify with our culture and heritage instead of demonising them. He added that there must be mutual respect among religions, especially Islam, Christianity and traditional religion.

    He said: “We should not discriminate against any religion on the basis of being holy or not. You can consider your religion to be the best, but do not demonise others. If we are not careful about religion, what happened in the north may re-occur in Yoruba land.”

    He appealed to religious leaders eschew incisive comments that are capable of dividing Nigerians along religious lines, saying tradition is different from religion.

    He also revealed that he has, through the efforts of other Yoruba men and women across the globe, established O’odua Progressive Union (OPU) in no fewer than 61 countries.

    While educating the audience on the difference between OPC and OPU, the chief promoter of the Olokun Festival explained that the OPU was formed to unite Yoruba men and women in the Diaspora and to create a link between them and those at home, while OPC was formed to represent the interest of Yoruba nation in general.

    He said: “We have launched OPU in 61 countries. The last was in Togo. This month, we are planning to launch OPU in Gambia and Zambia. This organisation was formed to unite Nigerians in the Diaspora because it is during the elections that the government recognises Nigerians in the Diaspora.

    “OPU is different from OPC. OPU is an organisation that emphasises on our culture and heritage to unite Nigerians all over the world.”

    Adams, who revealed that members of his team in the OPC are promoting festivals to boost tourism, declared that fiestas such as the Oro-Ebedi, Oke-Ibadan, Olokun and Osun Oshogbo, among others, should be strengthened and developed for socio-cultural and economic development.

    He noted that “the festivals are being organised to boost tourism thereby promoting the economy.

    “the celebration of festivals in honour and homage to Yoruba gods is the foundation’s way of contributing to the growth and development of our tourism potential.

    “It is unexplored alternative revenue earner that can accentuate our common quest for the economic development of Yoruba land and Nigeria.

    While speaking on the importance of Oro Festival, Adams declared that “Oro Cult is an outstanding institution that performs political, judicial and religious functions among the natives. It is used for social purposes and to preserve order in private and community life.

    In his speech, the Aseyin of Iseyin land, Oba Abdulganiyu Ologunebi Ajinanse 1 praised Adams and his colleagues for promoting Yoruba culture. The monarch implored members of the OPC to ensure that they continued to rebrand the group from the militia status to a well-cultured group.

     

  • Temporary market for shoppers during religious activity

    The Apostolic Church Nigeria, Ketu, Lagos has ended its 39th Annual Convention. The one-week event attracted thousands from within and outside Nigeria.A temporary market  on the premises of the church provided the side attraction to the convention. OYEWOLE PRISCILLA reports.

    For some participants at the 39th yearly Convention of The Apostolic Church Nigeria, LAWNA Terrirory, which held at its Ketu, Lagos haedquarters, it was not only about prayers and other church activities.  There was a side attraction: a temporary market set up solely for them to buy their needs.

    Set up on the church premises, shoppers had a worthwhile experience in the market. Thopugh small, the market had virtually everything one needs — from food, shoes, bags, mats, buckets towels, touches, plates/cutlery and many more. There was no need to go outside the church to buy anything.

    There were adequate security and sanitation. The convention area quickly transformed into a mini Lagos market during the event.

    Other items in the market included socks, clothing materials – chiffon, Ankara and others- sandals, puff-puff, gala, drinks, biscuits, sweets, popcorn, toast bread, ice cream and others), bread, caps, hats, berets, suits, choir costumes and others.

    Traders at the market were not necessarily members of the church. The market was open to traders, who registered for space through the right channel and complied with the rules laid down by the church. The traders either rented shops or used makeshift structures.

    With the market place bustling with many activities and filled with people, one would expect that traders to make huge profit but the reverse was the case. Profit made this year was below their expectations compared to previous years.

    Most traders blamed the poor state of the economy. It affected the demand for goods leading to low patronage by campers in a bid to monitor their spending.

    To recoup their loaaes, before the end of rge convention, most traders reduced prices of their goods, inviting shoppers with chants such as: “Today is the last day, tomorrow no more.”

    On the last day, the near-empty convention ground did not stop a few traders who hoped to sell more goods.

    Shop owners on the other hand had a different tale as they expressed joy over the increase in their sales compared to the previous year. Owner of PRAMEL shop dealing in consumables, hats, photocopying services and others, Mr. Sope Bankole,  told the Nation Shopping the secret to their trading success.

    “Even though we had other people selling the same thing, I think the better arrangement and organisation we had attracted people. Also, we reduced the prices of some of our goods which was appreciated by our customers, in particular, our photocopy service which was more cheaper than what you obtain within the premises,” he said.

    The convention, which was had as theme “The Purpose and Ministry Surrounding the Birth and Life of Jesus Christ”, was an avenue for spiritual reawakening, learning and revelation for members and pastors. The convention schedule was filled with morning, afternoon and evening sessions of revivals, teaching and healing services to mention a few in order to give member the opportunity to commune with God.

    To partake in the series of convention programmes, members who reside far away decided to camp. Free and paid accommodations were made available for members (which included guest houses, hostels, tent houses and even the church auditorium).

    Traders from the make- shift market migrated to Redemption Camp to proceed with their trading at the convention of the Redeemed Christian Church of God with the hope of making more sales.

    The church premises, which became a camping site, also a shopping arena for members and visitors of The Apostolic Church, has  returned to its former state of quietness with only scattered chairs and a heap of dirt ready for collection as evidence of the just-concluded religious and shopping activities.

  • ‘Religious politics will leave us worse off’

    ‘Religious politics will leave us worse off’

    Rev. Gideon Para-Mallam is the regional secretary of International Federation of Evangelical Students in English and Portuguese-speaking Africa (IFES-ESPA).  He spoke with Sunday Oguntola on the dangers in religious politics and why Nigerians should avoid at all costs. Excerpts: 

    hat are your fears and concerns on the general elections?  

    Our political pilgrimage as a nation has been full of needless contradictions. Nigeria and indeed Nigerians deserve better. In fact Africa deserves better. Nigeria is the most populous black nation in the world. Nigeria is now the biggest economy in Africa yet we never seem to get our acts together in a way that makes us serve as a model to other African countries. Yet many nations beyond Africa look up to Nigeria to inspire them.

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo a few days ago warned of a military take-over. Why? Why? Why? Deep down in my heart, I pray that this will never happen. It will be a show of shame and it will tantamount to Nigeria again dancing in the hall of shame in the comity of nations which will elicit not only a global laugh but condemnation.

    Then there is the constant fear of violence clearly because of the campaign of hate as politicians transverse the length and breathe of the nation canvassing for votes.  In truth, there is no single politician now on parade is worth dying for in today’s Nigeria.

    How about the heavy involvement of religion in the politics?

    Religious politics will consume this nation and no same Nigerians should support it – whether Christian or Muslim. The Muslims have used this in the past and it did not work; even if it did it was only for a time. The Christians should never be tempted by it. It also won’t work.

    The political waters are murky but as time goes on and we continue to progress as a nation, these unhealthy political tendencies will gradually be resisted by patriotic Nigerians.

    Are you impressed by the gales of endorsement in the Christian community? 

    Personally, I am not impressed by the gales of endorsement in the Christian community. But please do not get me wrong, it is not harmful for the Church to have ideological political preferences. The Church is free to have a mind of her own when it comes to political leanings.

    However, the church isn’t the architectural structure, which is visible for all to see. They consist of individual members and most times, these members vote based on their political persuasion. To use the pulpit to converse for votes for a particular politician or a political party is wrong. Just as it is wrong for the Christian community to do this, so also it is wrong for the Muslim community to do same.

    It is high time that Christians and Muslims joined hands to work for the unity and survival of Nigeria than pursuing their parochial political interests using their respective religions to add more to the hardship of Nigeria as a nation. I do not support either endorsement from the Christian or Muslim community. The interest of Nigeria comes first.

    How much really can these endorsements influence elections?   For those who are gullible, endorsements can easily sway the fickle minded. But those who are more reflective and have the interest of the nation at heart are not easily swayed. No amount of endorsements of any candidate will make them change their voting decisions. We must educate our people in society, Church and Mosques to vote wisely and vote for those who will perform – govern in the fear of God. Not those that will use God for their selfish political aims by manipulating their members in Church and the mosques.

    Politicians in Nigeria and indeed anywhere in the world will attempt to use anything to their political advantage. Clerics should never allow themselves to be manipulated by politicians. It is a dangerous precedent.

    How much roles should religion play in Nigerians choosing who govern them? 

    If I am to be truthfully honest, it should play no role at all.  May be this is an overreaction. And if this is the case, I am sorry but I am simply sick and tired of the negative influence of religion in our politics. Please let me make clear again, this is just not a matter of concern for the church, the Muslim community is doing exactly the same.

    The first point of liberation for any person is coming to terms with one self, the same principle applies to nations. We must come to terms with ourselves and collectively say no to the role of religion in our politics whether as Christians or Muslims.

    Where do you imagine these activities will leave the church after the polls?

    You keep making this look like it is a concern only for the church. It is an issue for all religions. We must rise to say no to such manipulation of religion for political advancement. Muslims who have used this in the past and are still pursuing this more subtly, have not necessarily been better off for it.

    Similarly churches, who are late in the game and are just copying what the Muslims have long been doing will soon find out that it leads to nowhere but more bad governance. This will continue to keep Nigeria as an underachieving country.

    Let us stop manipulating religion for political ends. Religion especially in northern Nigeria has been used and it still being used by Muslims. Sadly, the region has suddenly become an attractive political commodity to Christians as well.

    That said, all well-meaning Nigerians have a right and duty to express deep concern over the misuse of religion for political end. For me, neither Christians nor Muslims should encourage this tendency. I think the young people may eventually break free from this old ways of politicking. Nigerians should stop tribalising and trivialising God.

  • Global terrorism, religious freedom and democracy

    PRAISE the Lord and pass the ammunition‘ was a favourite quotation of mine in my younger days when I found it heroic and a sign or clarion call of valour and virtue, in the face of troubles and challenges. Nowadays that feeling has taken a good hiding or a back seat in my estimation.

    This was inevitable given the advent of religious violence and militancy prevalent in various parts of the world especially Nigeria nowadays. Frankly, I do not think I will be amused in any way, if anyone shouted that favourite phrase of praise in my vicinity nowadays.

    This is because in the real world of religious intolerance and Islamic militancy threatening world peace today, one should indeed flee, bolt and take cover or vamoose into thin air in a jiffy, if any religious slogan is shouted near you as the speaker could as well be a suicide bomber – or worse still a young lady- as had happened in many bloody Boko Haram bombings that have claimed many innocent lives in Nigeria in recent times.

    In Nigeria, the 200 abducted Chibok girls are still in the violent captivity of Boko Haram whose leader boasted that they would be sold into a marriage market he said existed after their conversion to Islam. For now, nobody, not even our government, can confirm if he had carried out his threat or not as nobody knows their where about, months after they vanished into thin air like the Malaysian plane carrying about the same number of passengers and crew that have equally not been found.

    Yet in Nigeria it has been business as usual. Indeed tomorrow Nigeria’s Under 20 female team, the Falcons, the same age group with the 200 Chibok girls will play in the finals of the Fifa Soccer Competition and will be rewarded amply by the Nigerian government and people win or lose. Yet the Chibok 200 girls are still missing.

    Of course the Chibok girls, missing or even found, are no threat to world or Nigerian peace or security. For now the greatest threat to Nigerian peace is the 2015 elections and the threat by Northern elders that the incumbent President should stop his mobilisation of Nigerians in the 6 geopolitical zones to launch his re election bid. Which showed that the Northern elders really like to back at the moon.

    Or else it should be apparent to them that if a Commander in Chief can successfully mobilise federal might to secure state elections then he should be more than capable to secure his own re – election, the protestations or warnings of the Northern elders not withstanding.

    I say this boldly because I find it insensitive of the Northern elders who have tasted and wielded power – Aso rock power for that matter, and known its potency as an intoxicant, to dare their successor who now wields the same power, if not more, with such impunity.

    They are really marching where angels fear to tread and must be prepared for a bitter surprise available to only those who survive standing in front of a moving train as the late MKO of June 12 would have said. Of course the irrepressible late MKOa great man of many proverbs once told his presidential running mate that a bird does not tell another when a stone is coming.

    That surely would be good advice for Northern elders as they face an incumbent president who like them sees the 2015 elections as infinitely more important than the fate of the 200 abducted and still missing Chibok girls. With regard to the US, Iraq, and Britain, the threats posed by terrorism to religious freedom and democracy, as shown from events in those nations this week, are quite revealing and educative especially with how they are being confronted.

    This is because in Nigeria we treat these issues like the proverbial ostrich with its head buried in the sand thinking that nobody is seeing it whereas its problems will not go away and will be there when it un – buries its head. That explains why right before our eyes Boko Haram is becoming a state within a state and has this week seized a training academy for anti riot police near Gwoza in the NE of Borno State where there is state of emergency to contain the same Boko Haram insurgency.

    Serially and with speedy impunity Boko Haram has killed and maimed Nigerians and Nigerian soldiers such that the valor and bravery of our troops had to be defended by the military spokesman, a General who took pains to explain the difficult situation of soldiers wives in barracks protesting that their husbands will not fight unless they are well equipped against Boko Haram.

    In the US the Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel came out this week to identify the terror group IS – Islamic State as the greatest threat to US Security today. Yet the IS is fighting to unseat the government of Iraq in Baghdad, so far away from the US Homeland. But the Americans nowadays under President Barak Obama have no stomach for any war as the situation in Iraq could have been avoided if the US had done what it is doing in Iraq today – with air strikes to save minority Christians and Yazidis from the murderous terror of IS -in Syria when President Bashir Assad used chemical weapons against the Syrian opposition calling for the overthrow of Assad.

    The US dithered then and Jihadists infiltrated the Syrian Opposition crystallising in the emergence of first the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq – ISIS- and now, IS led by Sunni militants heading towards Baghdad before US airstrikes stopped them. Now the US Chief of Defence Staff has said that IS cannot be defeated unless its headquarters in Syria is destroyed.

    Which, added to the warning by the US Defence Secretary simply means that the Americans must return to their vomit in Syria and execute the air strikes or red lines they averted in Syria over chemical weapons, this time to guarantee their own security in their own backyard or homeland in the US.

    What a long and treacherous journey back for US Middle East Foreign Policy! In Britain the issues we are discussing today created a dispute between the Church and the state, a familiar tussle in the evolution of parliamentary democracy in that former colonial empire.

    The Bishop of Leeds the Right Reverend Nicholas Baines recently wrote a letter to the British PM David Cameron accusing him that his government’s policy on religious freedom was not dynamic enough to protect Christians being persecuted in their thousands in Iraq.

    The bishop who said he had the endorsement of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the head of the Church of England on the letter, asked how many Iraqi Christians have been offered asylum in Britain based on their plight of utter persecution by the IS in Iraq.

    Which is a pertinent question which unfortunately puts the British PM in a quandary because the British people are in no mood for any war after they crucified Tony Blair his predecessor over the Iraqi Invasion of 2003 with the former US President George Bush, over weapons of mass destruction.

    That the British have a long memory and to show that the anti Iraq war coalition is not dead in Britain, was shown the way Parliament voted across party lines to restrain the PM , David Cameron from going to deal with Assad in Syria when the issue of use of chemical weapons surfaced at the beginning of the Syrian uprising. Now David Cameron is still handcuffed by the fury of the Iraqi anti war coalition and the Church of England seems to be compounding the impotence of a PM caged by a Parliament and a people that have lost the stomach for foreign wars.

    This is made worse by the fact that David Cameron himself has once declared as useless ‘multiculturalism ‘which his predecessor used to fight the dangers of terrorism in post colonial Britain. Sadly the British PM can only wring his hands in embarrassment as the Church of England tries to prod the state to find its balls on religious freedom in good, old Britain over the fate of Iraqis in far away Iraq.

    Really the British are seeing how fast the chicken have come home to roost after colonialism and now globalisation and I am not too sure that they for now really know how to cope. All the same I honestly wish them the best of luck which seems very scarce in old democracies such as theirs in today’s turbulent politics of global Islamic militancy.

  • Why tax religious bodies?

    Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged – John Adams.

    Taxing religious bodies which was one of the subjects discussed at the National Confab in Abuja has brought several arguments to the fore. I don’t understand why the government should impose or think of imposing tax on religious bodies. As it is, religious bodies are exempted from paying tax. Rather, public servants, government officials and parastatals are subjected to paying tax.

    Some have argued that religious bodies should be taxed, but one is compelled to ask if the tax collected from the citizens are not enough or they want to use that as a means of exploiting the citizens. Besides, I would suggest that religious bodies should not be taxed. The Chibok girls abduction saga is still there to be solved. Challenges of insurgency, poverty, power failure, corruption and electoral malpractices in the country are yet unfixed. Why then should they focus on taxing religious institutions?

    I feel this taxation issue is just a means to exploit the masses because some of the members of these religious organisations do pay tax. So, there’s no justification why churches or mosques should be taxed. The delegates may say religious bodies are making money, but it shouldn’t be classified as all religious bodies. The money made by these religious bodies, especially true ones, is meant for the welfare of their members and to carry out projects. The fact that some of these religious bodies make money doesn’t mean they should be taxed. The money received as salary by ministers in the country alone is more than what they say religious bodies make.

    Even if some religious leaders exude flamboyant lifestyles, with a general belief that they are living large while their members are suffering, government shouldn’t forget that these religious leaders also carry out certain projects that improve the lives of their followers. Churches and Mosques give out materials to their members. It was even through religious bodies that schools in the country evolved back in the 90’s. There is no religious leader that will want to see his or her member suffer, except for those who are fake.

    If taxation is imposed on religious bodies it will lead to more harm and deceit in the country. The government should focus on terrorism and shouldn’t involve itself with this. If the tax is imposed, what about those religious institutions that are small with few denomination, will they also be taxed?

    If some of the religious leaders are living well, it’s because God has blessed them, and it’s not the church members’ offering or tithes they spend that sustains them but donations, voluntary gifts and contributions from willing members.

    The way God blesses religious leaders is not something one can tell its source because most of them are into full time ministry. If a census should be carried out on religious institutions, you will find out that the leaders majorly pay the highest amount.

    The government shouldn’t impose this policy on religious bodies. They should think about the future of the country, after all these religious bodies pray for the betterment of the country. The religious bodies and its members should rise up to condemn such policies.

     

    Inimfon, 400-Level Mass Comm., REDEEMER’S

  • Kaduna ECWA leads quest for religious tolerance

    Kaduna ECWA leads quest for religious tolerance

    Since the eruption of what was tagged ‘Sharia crisis’ in Kaduna State in the year 2000 and the closely followed ‘Miss World crisis’ in 2002, Christians and Muslims have been living with mutual suspicion.

    The development did not only create tension, it also left residents of Kaduna to indirectly adopt segregated living, along religious lines.

    The two crises have equally forced people to move their worship places away from where their fellow worshippers are in minority to where they have people of their faith in majority. Where such worship places were left behind, they had often served as the first targets during crises.

    Mosques standing around the predominant Christian settlements of Sabo, Gonin Gora, Kakuri, Barnawa and the likes had often been razed during crises while churches around Tudun Wada, Tudun Nupawa and Ungwar Dosa suffer similar fates.

    It is against this backdrop that the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) Gospel Church Tudun Nupawa in Kaduna South Local Government Area of Kaduna State last week donated assorted food stuffs to Muslims within its domain in the spirit of the holy month of Ramadan as part of efforts to foster peaceful religious coexistence.

    The gesture is not the first peace move by the church. It recently gathered Imams and Village/Districts Heads from its predominant Muslim host community to fellowship with them.

    The Imams were invited to the Sunday church service by the Senior Pastor of the Church, Reverend Yunusa Nmadu, not to change their faith but to worship with them and build love between Christians and Muslims.

    The Muslim religious leaders and the traditional rulers were in the church from the beginning of the Sunday service at 9am till 12:30pm. Even though, they could not join in the reading of the Bible and rendition of hymns, some of them gave offerings to the church.

    Speaking, during the special church service, Nmadu said even though the church had been burnt more than four times during crises, youths of the area once stood their ground and prevented the church from being burnt by hoodlums.

    He explained: “That is why we thought we should return what has been done to us with love. We have done something similar during the Ramadan period.

    “So, this is to cement the relationship between us and our neighbours because we believe we can live together in harmony, because we were all created in the image of God.

    “We invited you Muslim religious leaders and traditional rulers to see what we are doing here and fellowship together with us so that we can show you the love of Jesus Christ.”

    Responding, the Chief Imam of Salamat Central Mosque in Bachama area of Tudun Wada, Kaduna, Sheik Dahiru Adamu, said there was nothing as important as peace and peaceful co-existence in the world.

    He added that any Muslim or Christian that hurts another human being due to religious differences lacks understanding.

    According to him: “Prophet Muhammed taught us to love our neighbours, even if they are non-Muslims.

    “The Prophet said if we see a non-Muslim that is thirsty and about to die of thirst, we should give him water, even if the only water we have left is the one we want to perform ablution with we should save the life of the non-Muslim and perform our ablution with sand.”

    He urged Christians and Muslims to desist from spreading destructive rumour.

    “We should desist from a situation where somebody will send us message that they have killed one Muslim in Zonkwa, then we too have to kill one Christian in Tudun Wada. That is tantamount to taking laws into our own hands.”

    The Village Head of Tudun Nupawa, Dr. Yusuf Nadabo, said: “We have entered the church and worshipped with the congregation. It didn’t change anything about us and did not convert us to Christianity.”

    He said gestures like invitation to the church were lacking in the past, which led to distrust among Muslims and Christians.

    The church followed up with donation of assorted food stuffs to Muslims within its domain in the spirit of the holy month of Ramadan.

    Items donated to the beneficiaries numbering 150 families drawn from the Panteka market union and Tudun Nupawa community included rice, beans, maize, noodles, sugar and eggs, among others.

    Nmadu said: “The gesture by the church to provide food items to members of the host community during Ramadan is to demonstrate the Biblical injunction that we should love our neighbours as ourselves.

    “Apart from that, we have also embarked on this to show the world that peace is possible and that we are all peace makers by demonstrating it in practical terms.”

    Nmadu commended the reformation in the community, saying “Tudun-Wada/Tudun-Nupawa which used to be in the news for the wrong reasons has since begun on a new slate.”

    Even though this community used to be a crisis-prone community, there has been a tremendous improvement over the years due to concerted efforts, guidance, counselling and proper leadership provided by the leaders and village heads.

    One of the beneficiaries, the Sarkin Dutse, Alhaji Shaibu Balarebe, commended the magnanimity of the ECWA church by assisting his people during the Ramadan fast in the past two years.

    Kadun State Governor, Mukhtar Yero, stressed the need for peaceful coexistence.

    Yero, who was represented by the Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Yari Everton, urged all to shun all forms of social vices.