Response to Boko Haram’s Christian Threats and the CAN President’s Reaction
By Raphael Ogar Oko  Newsdiaryonline Wed Jan 18,2012

Some years ago, when Nigeria was facing series of security challenges arising from kidnapping and militancy in the Niger Delta and other parts of the country, several operations were launched by the Nigeria Police. One of such initiative was Operation Fire for Fire, which was designed to fire criminals that seek to fire innocent citizens. I believe that many criminals may have been killed through the fire for fire initiative. Yet, the killing of criminals in the past never stopped criminality and even now, criminals continue to threaten our free movement and existence.

Recently, we read about the rumours of threats by members of Boko Haram and even watched a video message from one of the leaders of the group. It was allege that they were threatening Christians, especially in Northern Nigeria. The rumors of the spread became a reality when worship places around the country became the target of bombings. Beyond that there were reports of Christians being murdered in some Northern parts of the country. Without doubt, the reaction to the ugly and devilish acts have been diverse ranging from general condemnation of the acts as satanic to the reaction from the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria. The CAN President is reported to have reacted with a marching order to prepare for “fire for fire” to protect themselves and advance Christianity wherever they are based.

Reflecting on the emerging challenges to this call, I have been praying and thinking of what else we can do. If Muslims kill Christians and Christians kill Muslims, then we may soon have a Nigeria without Muslims and Christians. This I think will end up a “lose-lose” battle instead of getting a win-win situation. I wish operation "fire for fire" approach works, I would have supported the assertion by CAN President that Christians should rise up to defend themselves against BH threats. Yes, fighting the attackers back may be necessary for self-defense, but I do not think that this is sufficient to address the situation in a sustainable way as it is more reactionary than responsive.

When we reflect on the root causes of this, one is tempted to conclude that this is the price of raising an illiterate generation, unemployable and uncared for by irresponsible parents who just reproduce without taking responsibility. Where are the parents of the fellows threatening to kill fellow citizens? Can we say that It would have been better if they did not reproduce children at all and even if they were not born into Nigeria either. Another dimension to the issue is that most people seem to conclude that Boko Haram is an arm of the Islamic movement in Nigeria. I do not think or believe so as I have never heard any Muslim leader urging the Boko Haram members to fight on behalf of Muslims. Also, where are the injunctions and teachings in the Glorious Koran that Boko Haram draws its inspiration from. I have watched with keen interest that Islam is more intellectual than many of us may imagine and therefore find it ridiculous to say the Islam is against “western education”. Also, is “western education”synonymous with Christianity? Did Christianity begin from the West? How western is Christianity that Boko Haram will oppose Christianity through western education? I am again not sure of where this argument leads to.

How then do we response to the threat against Christians in Northern Nigeria? I am aware that the government will mobilize the military to confront Boko Haram in a fire for fire style. Yet, instead of fire for fire that the military may be asked to do with the militants, we need to seek for heart to heart approach. I think that this present challenge provides us with an opportunity for Christians to demonstrate the love that Jesus taught. Only the unity of Muslims and Christians can defeat Boko Haram. Boko Haram does not only threaten Christians but a major threat to Muslims and all religious people in Nigeria.

There is a window of opportunity being created by the emergence of this common enemy of Muslims and Christians. The enemy can only be defeated when we rise in unison to stand against the evil of killing fellow citizens. This is an opportunity that Christians need to understand Islam more and be better positioned to appreciate Islam and be better Christians. What if many Christians choose to study the Holy Koran and join the Muslims to pray on Fridays in their mosque? If all Christians gather on Fridays in the mosques closest to them and pray with the Muslims, what will be the job of these BH fellows again? Will that make Christians unholy or less Christians? I do not think so and I believe that in return, many Muslims will worship with Christians on Sundays in an amazing way. It is a heart to heart, neighbor to neighbor strategy.

As religious people, a gun for a gun is the last option we should ever imagine. One on one, I am not sure where a Muslim and a Christian are enemies, and herein lies the path of response and reconciliation. The Islam vs Christianity conflict threatens our common future more than the present subsidy removal conflict, but Muslims and Christians on heart to heart, neighbor to neighbor basis can resolve the conflict through love for one another. If we can study to understand each other well and seek to worship together the one and only One Creator, the sect will be out of job again as they neither represents neither Islam nor any God anywhere.

The challenge we are facing now calls on us all to begin a movement for a new interreligious culture where Christians worship in the mosque on Fridays with Muslims and Muslims join Christians in the churches for prayers on Sundays. In this way, we can understand beyond our faith and appreciate the faith of others as well as expand the kingdom of God's people in Nigeria. I believe that as we begin an interreligious movement to “Occupy Churches and Mosques” together on Fridays and Sundays, we shall have the unique opportunity of benefiting from the rich spiritual gift and blessings that each faith offers. We shall not only have an increase in worshippers but will provide a common time for the Almighty to listen to our supplication as a people dedicated to One Creator. United we shall stand but divided we shall fall. An interreligious movement of believers is what we need now.

We need to inspire our young people to embrace a new interreligious culture and break away from the old tradition of antagonism among believers in Nigeria. Now is the time for Muslim youths to attend church services on Sundays with Christians and for Christian youths to attend prayers on Fridays with Muslims and become the new interreligious youth leaders who can save our nation from religious war 1 in Nigeria. Believers without borders are the new generation of leaders that our nation need NOW.

It is no longer enough to be a Christian or a Muslim alone but to be a believer in God who practices the universal ideal of peace, love and unity. Together, we can defeat the common enemy of bad leadership, poverty, killers of brethren, etc. If we remain divided, then those who believe in almost nothing (neither God nor Allah, Jesus nor Mohammed) will lead us to destruction. If we are to die, let us die together in the name of One God and the gates of heaven will surely open wide to welcome us. If we are to live, let us live together and the blessings of the resources on earth shall be used for the well-being of all and not just some corrupt few who are neither here nor there.

I am praying for the new generation of interreligious youth to emerge from the decaying religious tradition in our nation that has left prosperity of all to prosperity of the leaders. The new Nigeria of our dreams can only be led by people with a broad interreligious heart. No matter how responsible and sincere the President of Christian Association of Nigeria may be, many Muslims will not be able to trust him to win the heart of Muslims. In the same way, no matter how responsible and sincere His Eminence, the Sultan may be, many Christians will not be able to trust him to win their heart. What they need to be now to win the followership of the people toward heaven is to become interreligious leaders who can be trusted by both Christians and Muslims without any doubt. If the present leaders are unable to grow their heart for being too old with the old wine, this is an opportunity for our young people to use their elastic heart and begin a new culture of interreligious cooperation.

Where is the National Interreligious Council (NIREC) established by President Obasanjo in the midst of all our religious challenges? Please, someone help us wake them up and inform them that it is 12 noon already and they have to wake up despite the fact that they drank the old holy wine late last night. It is time to wake up and build an interreligious Nigeria from the present day tribalized Nigeria. I pray this in the Name of the Almighty Creator of all