"Islamization" Of Nigeria, A Real Threat Or Political Trick?

The impact of religion, be it Islam or Christianity, on everyday life in Nigeria cannot and should not be underestimated. However, when it comes to politics, confusion ensues. How deeply should religion be integrated into politics, if at all?

Some Nigerians say politics and religion are inseparable in our country. Some say we’re blinded by religion and therefore biased in our judgments. Naij.com’s guest author Rev. Anthony B. Shawuya, writing from Kaduna, talks about speculations of “Islamization” of Nigeria. Religion, he insists, should not become the defining factor as we’re about to choose our leaders come the 2015 elections.

My oh my, is it because of power that my compatriots are leading people astray? Why has the issue of Islamization of Christians suddenly become a thing of concern just because someone wants to remain in power? Why are we so paranoid about a “plan” by our Muslim brothers to Islamize us? Do the PDP’s Muslims have this “Islamic agenda” to turn our names from Anthony to Mohammed? What about the APC that has good Christians in it occupying its leadership positions? Where is it written in their manifesto that their “plan” is to Islamize Nigeria?

One thing I know for sure is that two Nigeria’s main religions, Christianity and Islam, have mandates to spread and gain more adherents. For us Christians, it is embedded in the missionary mandate in Matthew 28:19-20. For Muslims, it is in the jihad which Mohammed (SAW) categorised into the lesser jihad and the greater jihad.

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