By Bala Ibrahim
No one needs invasion, particularly invasion on the grounds of religious characterization, or mischaracterization. And Nigeria must rise to the occasion of spelling out that to the world. Since the frightening announcement by President Trump of the United States, that if things don’t change, with regards the genocide against the Christians in Nigeria, America “may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.” By the definition of President Trump, Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. He said, thousands of Christians are being killed and radical Islamists are responsible for the mass slaughter.
The adjective existential deals with the noun existence, which relates to the state of living or livelihood. The reverse of the word would result in extinction, disintegration or retrogression. But in real sense, is that the crisis confronting Christianity in Nigeria today? The historians told us that, Christianity has been growing exponentially in Nigeria, right from the time of the arrival of the missionary, to the point where Nigeria is now becoming the country with the largest Christian population in Africa. Yes the largest, with over 80 million believers.
The historians say the growth was driven by 19th-century missionary enterprises, the influence of freed slaves, and the later rise of indigenous Pentecostal movements. And for those that are misinformed, it may interest them to know that, President Tinubu is the first Nigerian Muslim President, to enter the Villa with a Christian wife-a pastor for that matter. That conflicts with the narrative of Christianity facing existential threat. Christianity is rather gaining more influence under President Tinubu, I think.
The historians told us that Nigeria had its first contact with Christianity in the 15th century, when Portuguese Catholic missionaries arrived in the Benin and Warri kingdoms. There after, the second phase began in the 1840s, with the return of freed slaves, who converted to Christianity from Sierra Leone and settled in Badagry and Abeokuta. Missionary Societies like the Church Missionary Society (CMS) arrived shortly after. Samuel Ajayi Crowther, a former slave from Nigeria, who translated the Bible into the Yoruba language, was the first African to be ordained a bishop by the Anglican Communion. Since then, Missionaries have been establishing schools, hospitals, and churches, that are providing formal education and healthcare services, making Christianity a continuously attractive option for many Nigerians. All These are in conflict with the narrative of Christianity facing existential threat, I think.
In todays Nigeria, there is a rise of African-initiated churches and a boom in Pentecostal denominations, like the Redeemed Christian Church of God and the Christ Apostolic Church. Nigeria is now witnessing vibrant worship styles, with the coming of mega and miracles churches, that are addressing the problems of many Christians in the country.
Even in the north, where St. Bartholomew’s church was built as the first in Wusasa, Zaria, in 1929, and where Islam is pre-eminent and Muslims are predominant, Christianity is given the smooth sail of practice. In my native Kano for instance, variety of churches are operating, including the historic Anglican, Catholic, and other indigenous denominations. The word multi-faith is no longer new to many families. My doctor in Kano, who is an indigene of Kano, often, and proudly so, take delight in showing me pictures of his family members, from a family that is multi-religious. He is a Christian but every Friday, his clinic turns to a mini Mecca, where Muslim destitutes come to collect charity, some of which he told me, were donated by his Muslim sister. These acts I think, run in conflict with the narrative of Christianity facing existential threat.
The critics may say whatever they wish to say. And those interested in poisoning the mind of America can engage in whatever propaganda they want to do. But they must be guided by the moral thesis that, even where there are good reasons to instigate a war, the consequences of that instigation carry a heavy weight. And President Trump, who may be misguided through misinformation, may wish to refer to Ernest Hemingway, the American novelist and short-story writer, who said, “Never think that war, no matter how necessary, nor how justified, is not a crime.”
Indeed there are terrorist hiding under the guise of religion to kill people in Nigeria. But these killings seem to be without any definite plan, pattern, or purpose. They are directed at the followers of all faiths, including the Muslims, whom they claim to share faith with. As a matter of fact, there are credible statistics to suggest that, contrary to the narrative of Christian genocide, the Muslims are the real casualties today.