In the wake of the same-faith ticket, some have argued that religion has no role to play in a democracy. Therefore, they conclude, no one should be apprehensive about a same-faith ticket. A flipside of the argument would be that religion is neutral in politics and should be ignored in our political discussions, options and actions. But Nigeria’s character as a multireligious entity is not and cannot be without political implications. Religious beliefs have political implications. To deny this is to deny that we have political differences, and to pretend as if we had no political differences would take us…
Author: Rev. Prof Anthony Akinwale, O.P
By Rev. Prof Anthony Akinwale, O.P. The choice of a same-faith presidential ticket has generated animated discussion. That, in itself, is not unhealthy. But unhealthy is the disregard for civility in discussions. Uncivil disregard for divergent opinions is the first step to violence. Nigeria does not need violence. She has had and still has too much of it. If we truly desire a tradition of polite dissension, we must scrutinise every candidate for public office, insult no one because of his political affiliation, stop calling others enemies of Nigeria because of their divergent political views. We must trade not…
I have a special relationship with the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto. I spent the first two years of my priestly life and ministry in that Diocese. Then it was quite tough to live there as a Christian. Now, for a number of reasons, it still is. The Diocese is geographically vast. Its area is larger than the whole of Ghana. It covers Sokoto State, Zamfara State, and Katsina State. Hostility to Christians in Sokoto is not latent. The Dominican friars who came to Nigeria to found the Diocese knew living and working in Sokoto was no tea party. The Catholic…
