Nigerian Christians, Churches and their CAN are Lost to the Politics of 2027 Power Game.
By Bolaji O. Akinyemi.
“Muslim Muslim Ticket: A Jihadist Agenda Against Christians” was the title of one of my many vociferous attacks on Tinubu’s political strategy in 2023. You read me right, “strategy”, that is what it was politically. Though it served other interested parties more than just politics. Politics you must keep in mind is forever a game of interest. The crowd he sought to appeal to, hold primarily to the demography of another tribe but deceitfully also to that of religion, (Islam), to ply their interest into fruition.
Islamic fundamentalists are usually pragmatic in approach, with extremely complex networks and a very deceptive system to the undiscerning.
If the Christians, Churches and our Christian Association of Nigeria lack anything of value in the game of politics via democracy, it is not the numbers, which is the FINAL decider of the game. Not money, which is a veritable tool at advancing our interest. It is to the discernment required to read the game and the deep-thinking abilities to come up with a strategy, the tenacity to stay to it and the pragmatism required to twist and tweak the game from time to time to keep our numbers and deliver them at the poll, capped with the vigilance to ensure that our numbers in votes, count!
Nothing describes politics, better than the phrase; the more you look, the less you see. Basic requirements of politics demand that you get up, and get involved. The Church however is sitting at ease in Zion, particularly the Church in the south bloc of Nigeria, looking over the Middle Belt Region in pity without empathy for Christians in the north bloc; and, watching as the fundamentalists whose attempt to break down the wall of the Middle Belt Region and run over the inheritance of the father down south is no longer hidden. The Siddon look attitude of the Christians already screwed them in the present game of 2027.
Ask Rev Father Alia, the Priest and Advocate of the masses in Benue State before 2023 who talked him into contesting for governorship election in 2023 and got behind him with their numbers and resources to deliver him as the Governor. If his conscience still holds the Truth, his response may help save the Church from a certain calamity.
If Bishop David Oyedepo will reveal the security strategy that secured and sustained Winners Chapel from attacks in his days in Kaduna, maybe, the Church will be woken out of her slumber and borrow sense.
Oyedepo; same man, same anointing, grace and wisdom, built in south bloc of Nigeria what he couldn’t in many years of labour in the north bloc of same Nigeria. Bishop David Oyedepo and the Living Faith are the stories of every striving Christians and Christian Organisations in Nigeria. ECWA, the Church that birthed Oyedepo in the faith could have been 10 times bigger. I need to call your attention to the potential of TEKAN, COCIN, Lutheran and other churches of the erstwhile ‘Sudan Mission’, held down by the agenda of Risala of 1903 of the fundamentalists who created a caustic environment for Christian faith and its practice, via their tentacles in our political system.
The sublime nature of politics in Nigeria is tribal and religious. Note; it is first of all, tribal, and then religiously fashioned as a tool to advance vested interest. What are mostly presented as religious agendas are usually tribal in nature. Understandably, democracy is a game of numbers, so, blame no adept player of politics for inventing demography of numbers to get ahead of you in the game of politics and power.
If as a Christian, you think Tinubu is a “Demon”, for taking advantage of existing power formula, then spell democracy… Demo…. it’s lost letter “n” begins the name of the country; Nigeria.
The most advanced tribe in Nigeria in the game of politics is the Fulani. With the throne of the Sultan and the subtle recognition of that throne as the most exalted throne since our colonial days via the advantage it served the British subjugation of our country. Hausas are the largest of tribes in number in Nigeria and for the convenience of dominance, the Fulani invented the world Hausa/Fulani in order to harness the value of Hausa resources of language, population, history, religion, culture and couture; and, so the Fulani annexed the value of the cited Hausa resources to get ahead of the Yoruba and the Igbo. If you are to split Nigeria into a confusing two equal half, it can only be done through religion, particularly, Christianity and Islam.
The Sultanate as the throne of the tribe of the Fulani in Nigeria is also the “permanent” undemocratic constituent in Nigeria under the cover of Fulani brand of Islam, utilising the cryptic grace of manipulation through the Hausa/Fulani adjunctive and Moslem demographics.
Tinubu’s religious political appeals led to the strategy of deploying Moslem/Moslem ticket in 2023; but, later in the run up to APC primary election, he mounted the saddle in Abeokuta to appeal to the base of his Yoruba tribe on the exigencies of his turn with “Emilokan.” Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, is the home state of Awolowo, Obasanjo, Abiola, Shonekan, Diya and Osibajo, who were the hope of a Buhari Cliques to neutralise the political influence of Tinubu; Emilokan settled that score!
Many are making a mountain of a moth hill of APC accusations of Obi’s visit to Churches as a ground to label him a bigot. But the same Fulani-north that embraced Yoruba/Muslim and Kanuri/Muslim Ticket in 2023 and rejected Igbo/Christian and Fulani/Muslim ticket are in bed with Obi in their desperation to have power back to them in 2027.
If Tinubu now knows how desperate the Fulani are at keeping power, how cognisance is Obi of this desperation as he courts the coalition. Both Tinubu and Obi are losers in the big game. 2027 is only a step forward. Christians, Churches and our Christian Association of Nigeria must think ahead of 2027 and should position the country away from the deception of a tribe camouflaging as a religion.
The Fulani’s ethnic ancestral agenda, “RISALA of 1903,” aims to continue Uthman Dan Fodio’s expansionist expedition across Nigeria, which was halted by the British war defeat of the Fulani on 20th March 1903 in Sokoto. The Fulanis previously took over Hausaland, supplanting traditional rulers and reducing Hausas to dhimmis or second-class citizens. Some Fulani leaders claim Nigeria belongs to them, and a notable Bauchi governor said all African Fulanis have the right to live in Nigeria. Former President Buhari’s Open Visa Policy allowed Fulanis to enter the country freely. These actions fuel allegations of a conspiracy to take over indigenous lands.
As the national leader of the Fulanis, the Sultan of Sokoto, a respected statesman, has a crucial role to play in the stability of the nation. It’s disturbing that he appears to be muted and folding his arms while his kith and kin unleash carnage on Nigerians. The Sultan holds significant offices, including “Amirul Mumuni” (Commander of the Faithful) and “Sarkin Musulmi” (King of Muslims). He has the authority to call his people to order. The Sultan should use his position to promote peace and stability, rather than appearing complicit or negligent. Nigeria needs his leadership to address the ongoing violence and bloodshed.
The authority of his throne run parallel to the authority of the President and the commander in chief of the armed forces. Every mention of the words; Muslims, Quran and Islam is a consolidation of the grip of the Sultan of the structure and system of government in Nigeria.
The titles and roles of the Sultan spelt it out:
- “Amirul Mumuni” – Commander of the Faithfuls. This title suggests a military status, like Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. In the case of the “Amirul Mumuni”, the holder of the title controls the forces of jihad. Jihad cannot be launched without his approval, nor can it continue without his consent.
- “Sarkin Musulmi” & President, Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), i.e.
the King of Muslims. Whatever Muslims do in Nigeria, the Sarkin Musulmi is accountable because he is their king. All the bandits, terrorists, insurgents, and herdsmen are Muslims. - President, Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) – The JNI is an umbrella body for various Islamic organizations in Nigeria, aiming to promote Islam and defend Muslim rights, as generally said, through peaceful means. At present, non-Fulani brand of islam are being killed in their thousands in Zamfara, Niger, Katsina, Kebbi, Kaduna, Sokoto, and other states in the federation.
- “Sultan” – The monarch/traditional ruler over the Fulanis. This implies that all the herdsmen in Nigeria are the subjects of the Sultan.
The Sultan, as a respected statesman, has the authority to end Islamist insurgency in Nigeria. He should disarm insurgents like Niger Delta leaders did with their youths. With his illustrious military career, including postings to countries with Islamist hotbeds, he should know how to resolve the crisis. Nigerians find it worrisome that Fulani elders and leaders aren’t visibly restraining their youths, suggesting either complicity or negligence.
A Yoruba proverb says, “It’s better not to ascend the throne than claim no control over one’s domain.” As the Sultan, he can’t claim lack of control over his domain, being Islam and his subjects, the herdsmen. He should call his people to order, as their actions indict his leadership. Statesmanship comes with responsibility.
If Jihad cannot be launched without his approval, nor can it continue without his consent as earlier stated, we will do ourselves a lot of good to move away from our self deception of political correctness and probe the religious associates of the sultan, particularly among our tribes. What is the purpose of an NGO speaking to the establishment of Sharia among the Yorubas years before Tinubu came to power, headed by Professor Ishaq Akintola? What is the link between him and the Sultan, who are the financiers of his organisation?
Aregbesola was the progenitor of the State of Osun, what was missing is the word “Islamic”, it should have been Islamic State of Osun, but for the exigencies of deception. The word was hidden from you. With Aregbesola as the acting secretary, leap we must, either into APC or ADC, but looking before we leap has become very expedient.
What should be our perception of agencies of government headed by loyalist of the Sultan and sympathisers of the agenda his throne represent like Professor Ishaq Oloyede who as the Secretary General of the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affiars, rose in defence of the mandate issued by the Sultan for the implementation of Sharia in South West Nigeria. To imagine that the circular was signed by an Igbo man, Imam Haroun Muhammad Eze, the Deputy National Legal Adviser of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), is a revelation of how lost we become as Igbo or Yoruba once we embrace Islam. The circular formally endorses the establishment of Shariah arbitration panels in Southwest Nigeria.
The world has moved on from primitive times, and nations face consequences for their actions. The Fulani elders and leaders must stand up to be counted in the search for peace in Nigeria. It’s time to end the violence. The Sultan’s leadership and influence are crucial in promoting peace and stability. He should use his position to bring the crisis to an end, rather than appearing passive or complicit.
Christians, Churches and our Christians Association of Nigeria have no “Akintola” and his “MURIC” to get behind and sponsor. Who can cross the line of public communication and damn the ethics of political correctness to speak to advance fundamentalists agenda without looking back.
At a partnership meeting I led to the Diaspora Commission hosted by Honourable Abike Dabiri-Erewa in her office at the Villa before Isa Pantami showed her that the fundamentalists brand of Islam has no respect for humanity and women, I was in company of, “the brother of the Lord and my brother”, as I often hail him, James Ezenwa. The CEO of the Diaspora Commission’s first question to me was, are you the Bolaji Akinyemi who is always opposing the opinion of Prof Akintola of MURIC. She knew Akintola and knew Akinyemi. I leave you to fill in the gap.
But never forget, the Sultanate as structured is a State within a State, under the guise of religion to advance a tribe against the rest of our tribes. No leaders in Nigeria understood and demonstrated that but General Sanni Abacha. May God give us the courage to get ourselves a constitution and to elect our leaders.
With a naked Church without a “sultanate” or its equivalent political status/figure, a Church lacking in the understanding of the need for an “Akintola and his MURIC”, a Church rich enough to buy Nigeria but too greedy looking into the hands of thieves and looters in government. Instead of coming together to invest in the power structure and its control?
Is there a hope, simple hope or renewed hope agenda for Christians in their tribes and tribes of men in their homeland in this Nigeria as presently constituted?
What can our Churches and our Christian Association of Nigeria do to change the trajectory; how can we get up and get into the game of 2027.
Watch out for; “How Christians, Churches and Our CAN can get into the power game of 2027”.
