Reverend Sister Says Religion Will Not Unite Nigerians
The Reverend Sister said this on her
arrival at Murtala Muhammed International Airport after a ten-day exchange
program in Lebanon where she had the privilege to tour the country and learn
about its culture and traditions.
by SaharaReporters, New York Sep 24,
2017
One of the participants of
the Wole Soyinka Foundation and Cedars Institute sponsored Study Abroad In
Lebanon (SAIL) program, Reverend Sister Mary Emilia Aboekwe, said she has come
to the realization that religion will not unite Nigeria hence the need to
downplay the presence of religion in the country.
The Reverend Sister said this on her
arrival at Murtala Muhammed International Airport after a ten-day exchange
program in Lebanon where she had the privilege to tour the country and learn
about its culture and traditions.
Sister Aboekwe suggested the
teaching of Islamic religion in Christian schools and vice versa, arguing that
such will engender better understanding between Muslims and Christians alike.
She said both Christians and Muslims worship the same god, and therefore the
constant religious conflicts and misunderstandings are needless.
“After seeing what happened in
Lebanon, I came to conclude that religion needs to be downplayed in Nigeria,”
she said. “When we come out to discuss the unity of this nation, let us put
religion aside, because it will not unite us. We will never be united when we
talk of religion. Instead let us all believe that we are all children of God,
created by one God.”
Referring to the agitation in the
eastern part of Nigeria for a separate state, Sister Aboekwe advised the
government to consider dialogue just as the Lebanese used to find closure after
their long, brutal civil war.
“What I discovered in Lebanon is
that they had long years of war, beginning from 1975, but what marveled me in
Lebanon was the way they are living today. They have good infrastructural
development despite the long years of war, so I began to wonder why Nigeria is
the way it is today.
We had only three years of civil war in Nigeria and the
effects of war are still with us, but in Lebanon they have outgrown it.
In talking about the war and their losses, not repressing it, they were
able to heal faster,” the Reverend Sister said.
She also urged the Nigerian
government to learn financial prudence from the Lebanese government so they can
invest Nigerian resources wisely.
Also sharing his experiences during
the exchange program, Ademola Oloruntoba Adenle said he wished Nigeria would
follow the Lebanese on history preservation. He opined that despite the
influence of civilization, the Lebanese are consistent with their culture and
traditions.
He also expressed excitement about
the presence of African literature, particularly Nigerian literature, in the
Lebanese schools.
“They look towards West Africa or
Africa generally for literature. I heard a lecturer said he teaches Chinua
Achebe’s Things Fall Apart in their university,” Mr. Adenle said.
Similarly, Salamatu Sule, another
participant, agreed that Nigerian literature has much to offer the Lebanese
because of its multiplicity in experiences and genres.
She encouraged Nigerians to learn
from the smooth relationship among different religious groups in Lebanon.
Other beneficiaries of the program
included Ayomide OladeleFaji, Blessing James Christopher, Christain Nyamali,
Eyitemi Eyibojode Soyinka, Imam Khalid, Okani Chinelo Kasimma, and Oluwole
Adegoke Adedoyin.
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