2023 the year for Nigeria’s general election is fast approaching and Nigerians are already upbeat concerning the event. As it is, so many entities, bodies and individuals have been playing the Religious and Ethnic cards like never before in respect of this election.
Never before in the political history of this country has the issue of religion and ethnicity taken a primary position like it is doing now in Nigeria. The political space has been saturated by the volatile issue of religion and ethnicity. It has not always been like this.
Time was when the major criteria for measuring a potential Candidate was competence and political sagacity.
Politics which is supposed to be a playground for men and women of sound intellect to exchange ideas, brainstorm and swap opinions, have inadvertently turned into a breeding ground for ethno religious squabbles, malice, threat, rancour and intimidation. As a result of this issue of religion and ethnicity now ravaging our political climate, a lot of verbal attacks, acidic and vitriolic vituperation and outright blackmailing have become the order of the day.
In more advanced climes, these are not issues that should occupy the front burner. What the populace should be addressing now are matters of competent leadership, political dexterity, strength of character, and proven integrity.
Important matters to be discussed should be those that bothers on Nation Building, Resource Control, Restructuring of the country, Judicial and Security Independence, Ease of doing Business and how to enthrone good Governance. It is time to downplay on issues that tends to divide us like religion, ethnicity and cultural differences.
If this issue of Religion is to be stretched further,it will be discovered that in Nigeria,we don’t just have Muslims and Christians, we also have people Practising Judaism and African Traditional Religion.
If these Religious Groups suddenly rise up to demand for their fair share in the scheme of things, one can imagine how the whole scenario will look like. Even though we are talking politics here, there are so many other things that unite us which we can take advantage of in our quest for Nation Building.
Things like Sports, Music and Movies. These are activities that can be harnessed for the purpose of unity and progress, while at the same time playing Politics without bitterness and rancour.It is quite understandable that in certain societies, religion has been made to play some very vital roles to the extent that such religious Institutions have been made to take over the state. Examples of such modern day societies are the Vatican City otherwise known as the Holy See, a small settlement in Rome, capital of Italy which is controlled by the Roman Catholic Church that has the Pope as the Head of State, has its own currency and judicial system as an Independent Country.We also have the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran among others.
Be that as it may, these are not issues that Nigerians should fret about now. Let us give ourselves a Nation first. Let us learn to pursue the ideals of a country like the United States of America, which has succeeded in harnessing her diversity for growth and progress.
Americans always look beyond religion and ethnicity.There are two classes of regimes which the world can no longer tolerate: Dictatorship and Military Regimes.What is obtainable now is Secularism and Nigeria like America and other civilized countries have embraced it. It is therefore imperative for Nigerians to wake up and put the issue of religion and ethnicity aside and address the fundamental issues of peaceful co-existence, harmonious relationship between the diverse ethno religious groups that make up the country and the need to chart a roadmap for the infrastructural development and socio-political advancement of the country. Nigerians should begin to see themselves as one. As a Nation of one people, not just a country or a mere geographical expression as someone once said. As stated earlier, religion and ethnicity should not be used as tools to cause disharmony and disorientation, but as Instruments of cooperation, mutual trust and understanding, peaceful and harmonious integration. We should stop seeing our fellow Nigerians from the narrow prismatic lens of tribalism and religion. We should look at our fellow Nigerians and see them in terms of strength of character and sound moral rectitude.
As we approach the 2023 general election, let us put away issues of religion and ethnicity that tears us apart and concentrate on people that can offer us a clear and distinct direction that leads to National Development. Let us leave religion and ethnicity alone.
Let us forget about Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo. Let us forget about Muslim- Muslim Ticket, Christian- Christian Ticket or Christian – Muslim Ticket. What we need is the Ticket that can deliver to us the rewards of democracy.
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