Around Africa with Mongameli Maseko

Nigeria a nation divided

When diversity kills!

 

One attribute Africans have is their inclination to belong, whether it’s to their traditional beliefs, ethnic tribe, or religious group. This sense of belonging is so strong that people are prepared to die for their beliefs. The down side however is the inability to live together despite the differences which have made civil war an ongoing crisis on the continent. Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and is home to approximately 455 ethnic groups who mainly believe in Christianity, Islam and animism (belief that non-human entities are spiritual beings).

The recent turmoil in Nigeria is not primarily caused by its ethnic diversity, but by religious affiliation which has split the country into two sections with the Muslim to the north and Christians on the south.  Religious tension is not new, but is a deep sited issue. In 1967 the Nigerian Civil War demonstrated the level of tension between these two groups. The causes of the civil war were fourfold economic, cultural, ethnic and religious. So seven years after independence cracks began to appear in the state that was artificially created by colonial rule.

The pressure between these groups has forced the People’s Democratic Party to enforce a rotation system when electing the party’s president. The presidency rotates between the two groups to maintain peaceful coexistence between both sides of the religious border. At the present moment Goodluck Jonathon a Christian is the president and he faces the religious clash and the ongoing general strike.

In 2002 the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad which means people committed to the propagation of the Prophet’s teachings and jihad was formed. Their actions on the other hand, prompted them being known as Boko Haram which means ‘Western education is sacrilege’, due to their animosity towards western teachings. Their aim is to nationalise Sharia law which is largely practised in the northern. Their agenda categorically opposes Christianity, and thereby making conflict inevitable. Their activities have included of late the 2010 bombings in Jos led to the death of 80 people in the north coupled with the multiple bomb blasts after the inauguration of Goodluck Jonathon in 2011 and the 2011 Christmas day bombings.

Boko Haram’s reign of terror has led to retaliation from Christians. Ayo Oritsejafor the leader of the Christian Association of Nigeria instructing his members to riposte. This stance has led to a stalemate as both groups are slaughtering members of the opposite religious sect in their area. On the 11^th of January 16 people were killed, 8 victims from the north and the remainder from the south. In the northern state of Zamfara churches have been attacked with 19 arrests being made. Approximately 7000 people from Hausa, a community found in the south has taken refuge in police station and army barracks. These actions, coupled with the general strike in the country have led to Jonathon to call for a state of emergency. Troops have been ordered to patrol the streets of major states and cities to deter violence and protests. However, these efforts are being thwarted by Mr Shekau who is the leader of Boko Haram. He has posted videos on Youtube calling for his people to unite and exterminate Christians if they refuse to leave the country.  

The strife in Nigeria is even escalated by economic due to the removal of oil subsidies by the state. This has led to an increase in oil prices causing schools, businesses and shops to close due to the strike. So the country is faced with religious and economic turmoil instigating a civil war. Wole Soyinka a winner of the Noble prize for literature has called for national unity because failure to do so will result in a bloody war.

To prevent a bloody war the African Union and Arab League must work together. Shekau’s stance implies he will only listen to diplomats with the same religious belief as him. If an African solution to an African problem cannot be reached, the international community will step in making the situation more volatile because of the fundamentals of the Boko Haram. Wars have no victors because the image, economy and social life of the country will be dented and in some instances a generation may be wiped out before conditions stabilise.