Several decades after German philosopher, Karl Marx, argued that religion is the opium of the people, Nigeria continues to feed into this debatable postulation in its pseudo-piety and sanctity.
On a near-weekly basis, the Nigerian State is put under the lens following its inability to decide whether it is a Secular State or a theocracy.
Penultimate week, Deborah Samuel, a student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education, was gruesomely and cold-blooded murdered by her classmates and schoolmates over allegations of blaspheming against the Prophet of Islam, Mohammed SAW.
Since the execrable evil, the nation is once again put under severe strain as adherents of the two major religion – Christianity and Islam- take entrenched positions.
As if the Deborah’s tragic occurrence was not enough fodder to a flaming fire, another woman in Bauchi was accused of blasphemy again.
Like in the Sokoto macabre dance, Islamic extremists went on rampage burning down the home of a pastor and destroying some property in the wake.
The inability of the Nigerian authorities to act promptly and with firmness continues to embolden religious ideologues to take the laws into their hands.
It is even more worrisome when renowned and highly placed religious leaders add to inferno by their intemperate comments.
Take for instance comments credited to the Chief Imam of the Abuja National Mosque, Prof. Ibrahim Maqari.
“It should be known to everyone that we the Muslims have some redlines beyond which MUST NOT be crossed. The dignity of the Prophet (PBUH) is at the forefront of the redlines.
“If our grievances are not properly addressed, then we should not be criticized for addressing them ourselves,” Maqari had stated in a viral post on his official Twitter handle.
For a leader at such a position to give verve to a riotous situation is the most uncharitable.
It is, however, gratifying that the Executive Director, Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civic Education, CHRICED, Dr. Ibrahim Zikirullahi, berated Prof. Maqari for his controversial stance on the gruesome killing of Deborah Samuel.
According to him, “Prof. Maqari’s comments are fanatical and condemnable for an Imam to make comments that appear to justify extrajudicial killings.
“Such expressions can only be made in a society where there is gross impunity. In a system where the rule of law is held in high esteem, clerics will think of the le legal consequences of their messages before opening their mouths to speak. Islam is a religion of peace and total submission to the will of God.
“Gross violations of rule of law, human rights, and personal liberty as well as the degradation of justice, such as witnessed in the stoning to death and burning of Deborah Samuel by some students of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto (SSCOE) over alleged blasphemy constitute an affront to the humanity of all Nigerians, and further justify the demand for a National Conference to address the multi-faceted problems confronting the country.”
Truth be told, the Nigerian government should be doing more in terms of engaging religious leaders of various faiths on the supremacy of the Nigerian constitution, while carrying out awareness on religious tolerance and respect for each other’s religion and in particular the sanctity of the human life.
The continued shirking of responsibility will only lead to more Citizen Deborah’s’ killed in the most reprehensible way.
The greater danger is for adherents of other religions to be pushed to the wall and start fighting back. Nigeria will simply descend to a real Hobbesian State though it tethers on the precipice for now.
With a chequered history of religious crises, Nigeria can ill-afford another, the reason why all hands should be on deck to safeguard the fragile unity and peace.
Enough is enough!
