ON THE ALLEGED VIDEO OF CHRISTIANS BEING FORCED TO CONVERT TO ISLAM – A DEVELOPMENT THAT MUST BE RESISTED AND STOPPED
May 5, 2021 | News
I am sure many of us must have seen the video being circulated on social media platforms, purportedly said to be happening at the moment as Jihad, which they allegedly said has started in Niger State, showing alleged Christians being forced to convert to Islam or risk being killed by the insurgents.
-By Zik Gbemre
ON THE ALLEGED VIDEO OF CHRISTIANS BEING FORCED TO CONVERT TO ISLAM – A DEVELOPMENT THAT MUST BE RESISTED AND STOPPED
For a multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-culturally diverse nation like Nigeria to be having such alleged reports of Christians being forced to embrace Islam or be killed; it should be a cause for worry and concern…
Religion of worship is an individual’s choice, and no one has the right to force another to accept theirs…
If the primary motive of the Fulani herdsmen and Boko Haram insurgents is to force their religion on others in Nigeria, then it must be resisted at all cost…
With Boko Haram insurgents hoisting its flags in Communities of Niger state, it is a sign that we do not have a reliable Commander-In-Chief…
It is abnormal to be living in a country where the fear of being forced to embrace another person’s religion is now made the order of the day in this 21st century…
I am sure many of us must have seen the video being circulated on social media platforms, purportedly said to be happening at the moment as Jihad, which they allegedly said has started in Niger State, showing alleged Christians being forced to convert to Islam or risk being killed by the insurgents.
While I honestly cannot vouch for the authenticity of the said video being spread online, because there is nothing in it to suggest, and ascertain that it was happening in Niger State, or that the people in the said video are Christians being forced to convert to Islam or not. We also do not know if the said incident took place in Niger State or the Republic of Chad, or someplace else in Africa. But the fact that such a disturbing video is currently being spread across social media platforms in a country that has been in serious insecurity turmoil, it should be a cause for concern and worry to any right-thinking government and the entire Nigerian populace. Also, there have been widespread rumors of Islamic extremists wanting to force Nigerian Christians and traditionalists to accept their religion by force. Even the Hausas and liberal Muslims, are being attacked by these Islamic extremists.
For a country such as Nigeria, with an estimated population of over 200 million people, and being a multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multi-culturally diverse nation-society with about 520 languages, and over 1150 dialects; to now be having some of its territories and communities taken over by insurgents, who are now allegedly forcing Christians to convert to Islam or die – is something that should keep all the nation’s political leaders awake, and the people more alert to respond. This is not only disturbing, but a gross anomaly that should not be allowed to happen in the first place, especially within a country like Nigeria that is multi-faceted, and has a well-fortified Armed Forces, and a supposed Commander-In-Chief as President.
How can we be living in a country where the fear of being forced to embrace another man’s religion is now made the order of the day? In this 21st century, you cannot force any person to embrace your religion or way of life. For a nation as multi-faceted as Nigeria, there must be freedom of worship and association, just as it has been prescribed in the Nigerian Constitution. Gone are the days when religions are being forced on people, especially through the use of the guns/swords, where one’s refusal will lead to one’s death.
A man’s belief system is something that is core and very sensitive to him/her and his existence. While you are allowed to try and convince another man to willingly accept your religion, you cannot force it on one with the power of the gun/sword. Then, it will no longer be regarded as a genuine conversion, but one that is done out of fear. The religion of worship is an individual’s choice, and no one has the right to force another to accept theirs. Rev. Isreal Ransome-Kuti was an Anglican clergyman and educationist, but his children and grandchildren were/are mostly atheists and African traditionalists, unlike their father/grandfather.
If the primary motive of the Fulani herdsmen and Boko Haram insurgents is to force their religion on others in Nigeria, then it must be resisted and stopped at all cost. Every religion is superior on its own, and no religion is superior to others. Nigeria, as a multi-religious country and it is not an Islamic State, neither is it a Christian State; it is a multi-religious nation. As such, everyone is required to accept, accommodate and tolerate one another irrespective of one’s religion, culture or beliefs.
The Africans had their own traditional religion and practices before the importation and spread of Christianity and Islam. The Europeans came with the Bible and sword/gun and made the Africans to abandon their own religion and culture to embrace their religion and culture. In the Southern Christian areas of Nigeria, if one does not go to the Church to marry, then their marriage is regarded as incomplete and inferior. But the question is, are they saying that our forefathers were not marrying properly in ancient times? Again, the terrorism and kidnappings that are being carried out today in Nigeria and in the African continent, with the use of guns, bombs and what have you, were all products of the foreigners. They were all imported and adopted in the African continent. These things were not there during the olden days when our African traditions have not been polluted and side-tracked by the foreign ways of life.
On the other hand, too, Islam was forced and introduced on the northern Nigeria areas through their Jihad and trade in some parts. While Islam and Christianity are the dominant religions in Nigeria, neither is completely free of influence from indigenous religions and practices. Most people who consider themselves adherent Muslims or adherent Christians often also follow local religious practices. This makes up for perceived shortcomings in their religion. But the fact here is that the two most dominant religions in Nigeria are Christianity and Islam, and they were imported religions from the Middle East in Asia. However, it is wrong for religious leaders to ask their followers to force their religions on others. Every religion is important. And though, there are indigenous cultural practices that are considered fetish, but the introduction of Christianity and Islam has brainwashed Nigerians to abandon the rich aspects of our traditions and cultures.
The Europeans and Asians painted the African culture and traditional religion as very fetish and bad, and they condemned traditional religion as idol worshippers with derogatory words like ‘juju’, and seen as pagans. There are Christians today in Nigeria, who will never relate with a Nigerian that is practicing traditional religious practices. That is why I say Nigerians and Africans have been brainwashed by the colonial masters. Places like China where they resisted the foreign ways of life, are still thriving today in their traditions, cultures and religion. Let me stop here because this seems like another topic for another day.
The crux of the matter is that with recent reports that the Boko Haram sect has hoisted its flag in a Shiroro LGA of Niger state, which the Niger State Governor, Sani Bello has also confirmed when he said that terrorists have displaced over 3,000 residents of the affected communities; then we would understand why it is very believable that Christians in these said communities might be facing the situation shown in the said video being circulated. And we simply cannot have that. Whatever the case may be, this issue should not be treated with kid gloves, but given the needed attention by relevant Security Operative of the Nigerian Armed Forces. It is also appalling that we still supposedly have a Commander-In-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces and the Federal Republic, yet its citizens are now enveloped with fear for their lives, and being forced to embrace another person’s religion. This is totally unacceptable and should be frowned at and condemned by all.
Zik Gbemre.
May 5, 2021
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
-By Zik Gbemre
ON THE ALLEGED VIDEO OF CHRISTIANS BEING FORCED TO CONVERT TO ISLAM – A DEVELOPMENT THAT MUST BE RESISTED AND STOPPED
For a multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-culturally diverse nation like Nigeria to be having such alleged reports of Christians being forced to embrace Islam or be killed; it should be a cause for worry and concern…
Religion of worship is an individual’s choice, and no one has the right to force another to accept theirs…
If the primary motive of the Fulani herdsmen and Boko Haram insurgents is to force their religion on others in Nigeria, then it must be resisted at all cost…
With Boko Haram insurgents hoisting its flags in Communities of Niger state, it is a sign that we do not have a reliable Commander-In-Chief…
It is abnormal to be living in a country where the fear of being forced to embrace another person’s religion is now made the order of the day in this 21st century…
I am sure many of us must have seen the video being circulated on social media platforms, purportedly said to be happening at the moment as Jihad, which they allegedly said has started in Niger State, showing alleged Christians being forced to convert to Islam or risk being killed by the insurgents.
While I honestly cannot vouch for the authenticity of the said video being spread online, because there is nothing in it to suggest, and ascertain that it was happening in Niger State, or that the people in the said video are Christians being forced to convert to Islam or not. We also do not know if the said incident took place in Niger State or the Republic of Chad, or someplace else in Africa. But the fact that such a disturbing video is currently being spread across social media platforms in a country that has been in serious insecurity turmoil, it should be a cause for concern and worry to any right-thinking government and the entire Nigerian populace. Also, there have been widespread rumors of Islamic extremists wanting to force Nigerian Christians and traditionalists to accept their religion by force. Even the Hausas and liberal Muslims, are being attacked by these Islamic extremists.
For a country such as Nigeria, with an estimated population of over 200 million people, and being a multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multi-culturally diverse nation-society with about 520 languages, and over 1150 dialects; to now be having some of its territories and communities taken over by insurgents, who are now allegedly forcing Christians to convert to Islam or die – is something that should keep all the nation’s political leaders awake, and the people more alert to respond. This is not only disturbing, but a gross anomaly that should not be allowed to happen in the first place, especially within a country like Nigeria that is multi-faceted, and has a well-fortified Armed Forces, and a supposed Commander-In-Chief as President.
How can we be living in a country where the fear of being forced to embrace another man’s religion is now made the order of the day? In this 21st century, you cannot force any person to embrace your religion or way of life. For a nation as multi-faceted as Nigeria, there must be freedom of worship and association, just as it has been prescribed in the Nigerian Constitution. Gone are the days when religions are being forced on people, especially through the use of the guns/swords, where one’s refusal will lead to one’s death.
A man’s belief system is something that is core and very sensitive to him/her and his existence. While you are allowed to try and convince another man to willingly accept your religion, you cannot force it on one with the power of the gun/sword. Then, it will no longer be regarded as a genuine conversion, but one that is done out of fear. The religion of worship is an individual’s choice, and no one has the right to force another to accept theirs. Rev. Isreal Ransome-Kuti was an Anglican clergyman and educationist, but his children and grandchildren were/are mostly atheists and African traditionalists, unlike their father/grandfather.
If the primary motive of the Fulani herdsmen and Boko Haram insurgents is to force their religion on others in Nigeria, then it must be resisted and stopped at all cost. Every religion is superior on its own, and no religion is superior to others. Nigeria, as a multi-religious country and it is not an Islamic State, neither is it a Christian State; it is a multi-religious nation. As such, everyone is required to accept, accommodate and tolerate one another irrespective of one’s religion, culture or beliefs.
The Africans had their own traditional religion and practices before the importation and spread of Christianity and Islam. The Europeans came with the Bible and sword/gun and made the Africans to abandon their own religion and culture to embrace their religion and culture. In the Southern Christian areas of Nigeria, if one does not go to the Church to marry, then their marriage is regarded as incomplete and inferior. But the question is, are they saying that our forefathers were not marrying properly in ancient times? Again, the terrorism and kidnappings that are being carried out today in Nigeria and in the African continent, with the use of guns, bombs and what have you, were all products of the foreigners. They were all imported and adopted in the African continent. These things were not there during the olden days when our African traditions have not been polluted and side-tracked by the foreign ways of life.
On the other hand, too, Islam was forced and introduced on the northern Nigeria areas through their Jihad and trade in some parts. While Islam and Christianity are the dominant religions in Nigeria, neither is completely free of influence from indigenous religions and practices. Most people who consider themselves adherent Muslims or adherent Christians often also follow local religious practices. This makes up for perceived shortcomings in their religion. But the fact here is that the two most dominant religions in Nigeria are Christianity and Islam, and they were imported religions from the Middle East in Asia. However, it is wrong for religious leaders to ask their followers to force their religions on others. Every religion is important. And though, there are indigenous cultural practices that are considered fetish, but the introduction of Christianity and Islam has brainwashed Nigerians to abandon the rich aspects of our traditions and cultures.
The Europeans and Asians painted the African culture and traditional religion as very fetish and bad, and they condemned traditional religion as idol worshippers with derogatory words like ‘juju’, and seen as pagans. There are Christians today in Nigeria, who will never relate with a Nigerian that is practicing traditional religious practices. That is why I say Nigerians and Africans have been brainwashed by the colonial masters. Places like China where they resisted the foreign ways of life, are still thriving today in their traditions, cultures and religion. Let me stop here because this seems like another topic for another day.
The crux of the matter is that with recent reports that the Boko Haram sect has hoisted its flag in a Shiroro LGA of Niger state, which the Niger State Governor, Sani Bello has also confirmed when he said that terrorists have displaced over 3,000 residents of the affected communities; then we would understand why it is very believable that Christians in these said communities might be facing the situation shown in the said video being circulated. And we simply cannot have that. Whatever the case may be, this issue should not be treated with kid gloves, but given the needed attention by relevant Security Operative of the Nigerian Armed Forces. It is also appalling that we still supposedly have a Commander-In-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces and the Federal Republic, yet its citizens are now enveloped with fear for their lives, and being forced to embrace another person’s religion. This is totally unacceptable and should be frowned at and condemned by all.
Zik Gbemre.
May 5, 2021
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes