Who Owns Nigeria – Christians or Muslims?

Nigeria, a nation blessed by the Almighty God, is manufactured up so quite a few components. All of these areas are involved with one type of faith or the other. Nonetheless, there are two popular religions that are practiced by the larger sized populace of the place – Christianity and Islam. For noticeable explanations, these religions have been having difficulties to manage a leadership place or superiority more than the others.

The government at the centre has usually been observing the spiritual drama as it unfolds on day by day basis. Most leaders have typically been tempted to get sides with the unattractive development thereby soiling their arms in the murky waters of spiritual extremism. In spots, exactly where the Christians are in bulk, Muslims cry foul, alleging marginalization and exact same issue happens in places where by the Muslims are in greater part. In these types of locations, introducing oneself as a member of 1 religion where the other is in bulk is to say the least, building animosity.

In predicaments as negative as this, the central federal government is predicted to continue being neutral and unbiased arbitrator in issues of this nature. A perfect illustration is the seizure of all the Christian (Mission) faculties by the Federal Republic of Nigeria years back again. It need to be observed that, the Federal Government of Nigeria acted in line with true “federalism”, the nature of these universities notwithstanding. Nationals who do not subscribe to the Christian religion will be totally free to receive Western Education without having engendering spiritual jealousy. Even though, with out apology, the Federal Governing administration of Nigeria, it ought to be famous, acted in the fascination of countrywide unity to make an environment where by Muslims and Christians will feel cost-free in a plural modern society, go to the similar school, and interact socially, with no currently being maligned.

The on-likely discussion on the government’s introduction of “Islamic Banking Program”, which has currently place the two religions (Christianity and Islam) at loggerhead is an difficulty that phone calls for general public focus. The Nigerian Banking Sector which has been suffering from myriads of reform guidelines currently, which are thoroughly initiated and carried out in its management placement, has not witnessed the kind of warmth this new reform is producing.

Ideal considering Nigerians have remained apprehensive more than the issue due to the electric power of faith to generate division. The planned introduction of Islamic banking design into the Nigerian financial landscape is 1 of the problems that have raised so a great deal dust as final result of the term “Islamic” that is hooked up to the name. The issues that come about in this region on every day foundation have created the proponents of a single and indivisible country under the title “Nigeria” to have a rethink. As a outcome, there is a debate on the situation of “nomenclature” no matter whether or not the proposed non-desire banking should really retain the name “Islamic Banking”. Pundits have stated that the time period “Islamic Banking” will only do well in stoking the fires of mutual distrust in a peculiar faith-sensitive environment like Nigeria. It is also seen that adopting the controversial name will be a grave violation of the nation’s secular standing.

The on-going discussion which has really produced so much difficulties. The Christians in just one hand, are accusing the Muslims of making the most of low cost recognition by permitting the government to position Islam previously mentioned and from other religions in the place, primarily on their purported bid to Islamize Nigeria (see Day-to-day Rely on, Monday July 4, 2011, site 30 and Thursday July, 7, 2011, webpages 26-27). The Muslims, on the other hand, are accusing the Christians of remaining ignorant and at the exact time, deviating from genuine Christianity, if they agree with the existing Nigerian banking system that encourages extortion.

Debunking the promises of the Christians that “Islamic Banking” is a way to Islamize Nigeria, the Muslims declare that their voices have not been read around the a long time in the activities of Nigerian governing administration especially, in coverage producing, simply because according to them, Nigerian governing administration has been operating on the English Christian Regulations. The issue that most Nigerians have not unsuccessful to talk to as a final result of this unsubstantiated declare is, “When did English Legislation translate into Christian Rules?” English Regulations, as we know, came as a outcome of British colonization of Nigeria, not via spiritual (Christian) imposition. It should really be mentioned listed here that the Christians in Nigeria are not at home with every little thing in the Nigerian Constitution for the reason that, there are so many issues in the regulation that operate contrary to Christian ethics. In other terms, Christians and Muslims must discover to accommodate the plurality of the Nigerian country and desist from unwarranted utterances that could induce chaos. Everyone (no matter the tribe, or faith) is desired in building a united Nigeria. Christians and Muslims are anticipated to stay in peace with one particular a further. Just about every very good creation or discovery to advance the nation is very appreciated. When just one part discovers a thing, the other components reward devoid of subjecting the up-coming elements to servitude.

The claim that the concept of “Islamic Banking” is ominous is an understatement, simply because it is actually not in the nationwide desire. A crucial seem at the nomenclature tells us that Islam requires the credit score of banking reformation in Nigeria even when all the men and women doing the job working day and night time in setting up the solid banking method are not Muslims. As a man or woman, I have often appreciated persons initiating good projects and programmes that will not only unite Nigeria but assistance in getting her to the following degree. This method of “non-fascination” banking as advocated by the management of Nigeria’s apex financial institution is a welcome concept, but the spiritual colouration of it is not appropriate. In other text, the apex financial institution ought to develop a listening culture where people’s contributions in the way it runs the pursuits of the banking sector should be valued. This will kill the plan of a segment of the country increasing shoulders around and earlier mentioned the other folks for possessing their names published in gold, even when the hand holding the pen and the paper belongs in other places.

On the other hand, the idea of one’s voice not remaining heard in a country like Nigeria suggests selfishness. Nigeria belongs to all of us and contributing to its development should often be a collective work. This is why eradicating the religious colouration from this technique of banking will go a extensive way in safeguarding against any form of discrimination, as the approach of the apex lender is a lousy demonstration of sensitivity to the unity of Nigeria. The authorities should really as a subject of urgency, suspend the action of the apex bank right until a compromise is achieved, given that the plan of an “Islamic Banking” for a nation like Nigeria is capable of actively playing one faith versus a different. Also, possessing examined the difficulty at hand, the govt as nicely as the apex financial institution must think about the subsequent as a way out:

1. A much better, but unifying nomenclature need to be adopted and the concept of “Islamic Banking” dropped consequently it is capable of over-heating the currently charged political and religious atmosphere of the place. It will also help in uniting all the distinctive spiritual groups with no engendering jealousy or spiritual bickering.

2. New banks ought to be founded which will completely have out the Islamic Banking Program. This will develop the wanted difference from the currently present technique of banking operation in Nigeria. This strategy is also healthier since it will give place for competitors and boost customer’s banking option.

3. Federal government need to generate place for spiritual companies to take part in the banking sector by way of possessing and controlling banking companies to their very own tastes and benchmarks. This will assist in generating an enabling atmosphere for people who conceal below the cloak a place to champion or even more the system of a distinct faith to have a amount actively playing floor that will expose their skills in handling financial matters.

4. If the institution of new financial institutions is not attainable at the moment, presently present banking institutions will be specified the solution of selecting in between the existing banking process and the proposed “non-curiosity banking” technique. This will alleviate the concern of imposing a specific faith more than a appropriate contemplating and totally free citizens of Nigeria.

Nigerians really should have an understanding of that the nationality of this place is not built on a certain ethnic or spiritual team, thus, finding out to accommodate a person a different indicates that difficulties of nationwide desire ought to generally be weighed towards all odds ahead of they are adopted or applied. However, the accusations and counter-accusations from these religious bodies should be place to rest mainly because they are truly harmful to our cooperate existence. Nigeria belongs to neither the Christians by itself nor to the Muslims on your own. Permit us learn to like, cherish and accommodate a single another. God bless Nigeria!