From the Church of Nigeria official website:
Anglican Leaders seek end to religious crisis
Ibadan, Feb. 24, 2006- The carnage of violence that has besieged the nation this past week has led many religious leaders to ask the reason behind the avoidable mayhem.
In separate interviews, Anglican Bishops, whose areas of jurisdiction witnessed religious riots, called for an immediate cessation to further killings.
They also want government to address the issue of religious intolerance. …
Bishop of Gombe, the Rt. Rev Henry Ndukuba, Bishop on the Niger in Anambra state the Rt. Rev Ken Okeke, In Niger Delta, Bishop Edafe Emamezi of the Missionary Diocese of Western Izon, are all quoted.
Such a relief to see some Christian leaders with authority and influence speaking peace into the situation rather than war.
Thanks to be God no one has died.
“They said the protest was sparked by a love affair between two persons that ended in fracas.”
Apparently, the key to political spin in Nigeria is to make no sense whatsoever. The bishops and peoples of those dioceses have my prayers.
Those who remember the Nigerian Civil War in the 1960’s and its consequences may hesitate at this time to offer easy fixes to deep problems. Northern and Southern Nigeria were under separate administrations until the colonial power amalgamated them for ease of governance in 1914. The divisions that continued to flourish within Nigeria up to independence were not answered by the new Federal government. While religions play a key role, the social, tribal and economic divisions within the Federation are all of great importance. It is worth considering in this broader context that Peter Akinola is viewed as a moderate… Read more »
Martin,
I fear you are correct. I’ve asked the Nigerian members of my congregation about the current state of affairs — some of them still have family “back home” so this is not an idle question for them — but their response has been a shrug of resignation and a general sense that a major civil war between the north and south, with a heavy Muslim / Christian and Hausa / Igbo overlay, is coming. (To say nothing of the other tribal divisions, as with the Yoruba).
We need a leadership ironically brave enough to appeal for peace!
Martin Your comment that dialogue/listening is perceived as weakness is not unique to the Nigerian problem. In recent months I’ve read papers by Zionists who argue that God kept the Jews in Exodus under Moses for 40 years to teach them to embrace violence to gain their holy land (forgetting that Moses was barred from the Holy Land because he used undue force when he struck the rock). I’ve read pro-military Americans argue that unless violence is part of the solution, there will be no solution. I’ve read terrorists misrepresenting their suicide bombings as shaping politics, ignoring all the other… Read more »
Still no word from ++Akinola?
I fear that I must with great regret agree with those expecting another civil war in Nigeria (with the lines somewhat different this time) — Nigeria desperately needs a Gandhi or Mandela or Tutu — doesn’t seem to be one on the horizon so far, sadly (but there is lot going on that one never hears about & I devoutly hope that I am very wrong).