A war is looming in Niger Republic, a poor nation in the African continent, and the West has been accused of fueling the embers. On the other hand, the legislative arm of the Nigerian government, a prominent nation in Africa, believes that investing her military strength in Niger’s uprising will threaten Niger-Nigeria economic ties and compromise their own local security through the landlocked borders.
However, some people managed to turn a purely international military and political event into a religious affair. For instance, a protest took place in the northern Nigerian state of Kano and, contrary to the expectations of Nigerians and peace advocates, the protesters accused “the West” of being the brains behind the looming war in Niger, calling it a war against Islam. In another instance, a video shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) shows an Islamic cleric, speaking in the Hausa language, accusing the Nigerian Chief of Army Staff (COAS) who is a Christian from Kaduna State, of instigating the attack on Muslims in Niger. The cleric claims the COAS is a descendant of Christian crusaders who attacked Muslims in the past, and therefore wants to continue from where his ancestors stopped. As ignorant and ridiculous as that sounds, it goes to show how deep religious bigotry and intolerance has eaten into the fabrics of our society.
Consider the decision by the Kano state government to demolish a structure put in place at a major roundabout in Kano city by the past administration. The newly-elected government represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Dr. Baffa Bichi earlier in June claimed that the structure is not only too humongous, but looks similar to the Christian symbol of the cross from above, and therefore does not represent the religion of Muslims who are in the majority in the state. While it is true that Muslims are in the majority in Kano State, there is also a large population of Christians and traditional worshippers in the state. They are mostly found in the Sabon Gari (Strangers Quarters) area of the state which is also where the biggest market in northern Nigeria is located; the Sabon Gari Market.
For a state that generates billions of Naira in revenue and investments from this market where even “un-Islamic” trades take place, and where Christians and other religious worshipers are found, this high level of religious intolerance, especially from the government, should not be experienced. It is a tacit endorsement of discrimination against other faiths by the state, especially when the murder of Deborah in neighboring Sokoto State is yet to be solved.
Taxpayers’ money should not be laid to waste because an architectural structure bears resemblance to another religious symbol, rather the structure should represent the diversity of Kano State as a state that attracts and welcomes people of other tribes and religions. It should show that Kano State is ready for business.
GACLI Nigeria call on Governor Abba Yusuf not to embark on policies and actions that would lead to waste of public funds and fan the embers of religious intolerance in Kano State. We recommend that he formulates policies that would encourage inclusiveness and diversity, while protecting the right to religious and economic freedom.
Furthermore, we call on religious leaders, traditional rulers, politicians, and other people of influence to use their platforms to discourage misinformation and douse any flames of ethno-tribal division, tension, and conflict. A house divided against itself cannot stand, and this division continues to pose a barrier to the development of Nigeria and Nigerians as one nation. Both home and abroad.
Citizens must continue to hold their government, and leaders in various circles accountable when they get it wrong, while also ensuring that social media is used to promote peace, unity, and respect for other traditions and religions.
GACLI Nigeria is committed to a peaceful Africa, and therefore recommends that all diplomatic channels are explored in the issue of the Republic of Niger. Any military action will only further escalate the insecurity situation within the region, disrupting the peaceful coexistence Nigerians and Nigeriens have enjoyed since independence.