AGENDA FOR PEACE WITH MR. RIGHTS: BITTER TRUTH ABOUT ISLAMIZATION AGENDA

Source: thewillnigeria.com

The purpose of this writing is not to promote any religious divide,but rather, to educate the public and set the record straight against empty and unnecessary politicization of Christianity and Islamic religion.This is necessary because, If one take a closer look at the dirty role our selfish,but corrupt politicians and clerics are playing with these two religions one would be left with no doubt about the danger awaiting to befall this great nation as a result of religious hatred and distrust that had been well enshrined in the heart of our people. Such divisive antics had gotten to a stage that, if two brothers believe in the two faiths, i.e one chose Islam, while the other chose Christianity, both may be relating with each other with distrust and suspicion. For example, If Boko Haram terrorist group strikes in Borno, killing innocent people, the Christian brother could turn to challenge his Muslim blood brother to take responsibility for the act, accusing him for Islamization agenda. This had taken away the love in many families, towns and the society at large.

But the question is;
Is there anything like the Islamization agenda?
Who has the agenda? When was the agenda set?
Who set it? What is the goal of that agenda and how realistic Is it?

I mean, do you actually believe such an agenda do exist? If yes, I would really love to see your evidence or reason to believing in such an empty noise and society destroying propaganda. I call it an empty noise because, it seems to be always be a conspiracy theory or in the imagination of those making the allegation and in reality, nothing of such is ever seen. In today's Nigeria, hardly can any political discuss not lead to issue of Islamization agenda. Many young Nigerians of the Christian faith hardly discuss politics without bringing up the issue of Islamization, that seems to be the only logical point of argument for them. In the middle of political debate, when there seems to be no other logical position they could argue with, they resort to the conspiracy theory of Islamization agenda. It doesn't matter how educated they claim to be, neither does their level of exposure matter. Many a times, I find myself in midst of christian friends who at any given time we engage in political debate, they re-echo the message of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and some Christian politicians about a supposed islamic agenda of Muslims to Islamize Nigeria. Often times, I try to find connection on how exactly the Muslims had planned to islamize Nigeria and I couldn't find any, but these christian friends always insist that this so called agenda do exist without providing any corresponding evidence. They mostly rely on the message of CAN and the christian politicians who often make this baseless claims to steer up sentiments in favor of their pockets and political aspiration even though it is illogical. No matter how much I try to make us have a decent conversation to locate the truth, these friends often end the dialogue by insisting that such exist even though there is no any evidence. They hold the perception and we all know, perception mattered. Despite not having any evidence to prove such, they hold that it exist and such attitude, especially from supposed learned people make me feel as if this country has been cursed with religious sentiments.

However, I know the country is not cursed, certainly not by God, but indeed, it has been cursed with bad leaders who can go any length to secure power. Yes, Nigeria has been cursed with immoral religious leaders who can divide the people with baseless claims to secure wealth and political patronage, yes, we have been cursed with deceitful political leaders who don't mind wiping out entire region to retain power and most especially, we have been cursed by ignorant educationists who acquire all academic certificates without any iota of quality reasoning and productive knowledge. In many public discuss now, rather than concentrate on discussing how to have good governance, create jobs etc, we are forced to be discussing a supposed islamization agenda, which I have tried to check the possibility of its existence but failed to find any.

These unnecessary divisive publicity was championed by the Chrisitain Association of Nigeria (CAN), where the association continue to claim that Christians are being marginalized, giving an impression that Muslims had been dominating the country through a grand agenda which they always refer to as Islamization agenda. But what I have been wondering about is that, how can a country, where Christians had ruled more than Muslims accuse Muslims of trying to Islamize the nation? The evidence on ground shows that, if any faith should be accused of having any agenda whatsoever, that should be the christian faith because,In the about 55 years of Nigeria's existence as an independent nation, Christians had rule for 31 years, while Muslims had only ruled for just 24years.

The question is, why should Christians, who had ruled Nigeria more than any faith accuse Muslims of Islamization agenda? This is not only ridiculous, it is even senseless. When Nigeria took independence in October 1st, 1960, both Tafawa Balewa (Muslim) and Nnamdi Azikwe (Christian) took the leadership of country as President and Prime minister respectively. Both ruled Nigeria for 5years, 3 months and their tenure ended in January 15,1966 after Tafawa Balewa (Muslim) was cruelly murdered in a military coup. After that democratic tenure was truncated by the coup, a Christian, Aguinyi Ironsi took over. He spent only 6 months before he was also cruelly murdered in a revenge coup. With the end of Ironsi's government in August, 1966, Christian had ruled the country for 5 years, 9 months, while Muslim had only led for 5 years, 3 months. After Ironsi's government, another christian, Yakubu Gowon took over and spent 9 good years in power and with that, Christian had ruled Nigeria for 14years, 9 months, while Muslim had only ruled for 5years, 3 months. Then, Murtala Muhammed (Muslim) took over as head of state and spent just 6 month before he was also murdered on sit. With the murder of Murtala on throne, the two Muslims that had ever ruled Nigeria were both murdered while serving the nation, and Murtala's rule take the tally of a Muslim ruling Nigeria to 5years, 9 months, while Christian had ruled for 4years, 9 month. Again, another christian, Olusegun Obasanjo took over in 1976 as the country's head of state. Obasanjo spent 3 years, 7 months in power, before handing over to Shehu Shagari (Muslim) in September 1979. With the handing over by Obasanjo, christian had ruled Nigeria for 18years, 4 months, while Muslim had only ruled for 5years, 9 months. So, as at 1979, Christian had ruled Nigeria for 18 years, 4 months, while Muslim had only ruled for 5years, 9 months.

While Christians are enjoying such privilege at the leadership of the country, there was no record that the Muslim population, particularly the religious apex body, Islamic Council of Nigeria allege that there was any christian agenda. So, it surprises me today that some Christians, led by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) continue to allege that there exist a plan to Islamize Nigeria because some Muslims are aspiring to rule the country. It is even more saddening that the apex christian body continue to claim that the present president, Goodluck Jonathan is being victimized because he his a christian. This is very shameful and unimaginable. Shagari took over from Obasanjo and ruled Nigeria for 4 years, 2 months before another Muslim, Muhammadu buhari took over and ruled for 1 years, 10 months making 6 years all together. Again, another Muslim, Ibrahim Babangida took over and ruled the country for good 8 years. With the end of IBB's government, Muslims had ruled the country for 19years, 9 months, while Christian had ruled for 18years, 4 months.

Then In 1993, Ernest Shonekan, another Christian took over and spent only 4 months before Sani Abacha (Muslim) took over and spent another 4 years, 7 months. After the demise of Sani Abacha in June 8, 1998, another Muslim, Abdulsalam Abubakar took over and ruled for 11 months and with the end of Abubakar's tenure muslims had spent a combined period of 24 years, 3 months while christian had only ruled for 18years, 4 months. Then on May 29, 1999, Olusegun Obasanjo, another Christian took over and ruled for good 8 years. He handed over to Musa Yardua, a Muslim on May 29, 2007. With the end of Obasanjo's tenure, Christian had ruled Nigeria for 26years,4 months, while Muslim had ruled for 24years, 3 months. Yardua ruled the country for 2 years, 9 months before Goodluck Jonathan, another christian took over. So far, he had ruled Nigeria for 5 years, 3 months. As it stand today, Christian had ruled Nigeria for 31years, 7 months, while Muslims only ruled for 24years, 3 months. If Good-luck Jonathan as incumbent president win re-election in this years presidential election and completed the tenure, christian would have ruled Nigeria for 35 years, 7 months, while Muslims had ruled for only 24 years, 3 months. So, if Muslims whom despite its slight majority according to records had ruled Nigeria for less period than their christian counterpart are not shouting about Christianization of Nigeria, why should the Christians, led by its apex body Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) continue to make this baseless claim about a supposed Islamic agenda, sowing the seed of discord between ordinary people of Nigeria? It should also be noted that, only one Nigerian of christian faith, Aguinyi Ironsi was murdered while serving as head of state in 1996 counter coup. 4 Muslims ex-presidents, namely Tafawa Balewa,Murtala Muhammed, Sani Abacha and Musa Yardua had died on the throne. Tafawa Balewa, the prime minister was cruelly murdered while the president, Nnamdi Azikwe was not. Murtala Muhammed was murdered and some blame it on Obasanjo, his deputy. Abacha was said to have been poisoned and Yardua died of a supposed heart failure.

Now, in the world of deceit and conspiracy theory, Muslims could allege that, it was a christian agenda to kill the 4 Muslims on throne since out of the 4 death, christian took over on 3 occasions. When Balewa was murdered, Ironsi took over. When Murtala was murdered, Obasanjo took over and when Yaradua died, Jonathan took over. It could have been baselessly said that,Christians plotted to poison and kill Abacha. It could also be inferred that Yaradua didn't actually died because of his heart failure, in the world of conspiracy theory, it is very easy to claim that he was poisoned. This is apart from the day light murder of Tafawa Balewa and Murtala Muhammed. You will agree with me that claiming the above is very easy and foolish,that's exactly how the rhetoric's of islamic agenda sound to all reasonable people. Both empty claims are not only ridiculous, inhuman and deceitful, it is also evil. What am saying in essence is that, it is wrong, absolutely wrong for CAN and Christian politicians such as Femi Fani Kayode to continue to claim that there exist and empty islamic agenda, this is not only inhuman and deceitful, it is rather destroying the essence of Islam and Christianity. Such baseless insinuation is the causes of hatred, distrust and most issues of insecurity in Nigeria. It is taking away the peace, love and happiness that we used to share and replacing it with destruction, anger and division. As we begin the new year, let us be guided with reason and strive to bring back the lost love and peace in our society. We should remember that our graves awaits us, and we are all born free and equal in rights and dignity.

Written by Abdulrazaq O. Hamzat (Mr Rights).
@Abdool101

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