In 2023, Bola Ahmed Tinubu stripped Christianity of political relevance in Nigeria. As a presidential candidate, Tinubu concluded that Christianity was of such low electoral value that no northern Christian could help him win the presidency. Thus, he picked a fellow Muslim as his running mate. It worked. However, the seed that Tinubu planted is now being watered by Islamic bigots who are citing the “success” of the 2023 Muslim-Muslim ticket as evidence of Islam’s numerical superiority over Christianity in Nigeria, and are, thus, asserting that Muslims should continue to dominate national leadership, a view recently advanced by Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, an Islamic supremacist.
Unfortunately, the seed planted by Tinubu and being watered by Islamic zealots is growing, as the Tinubu presidency mollycoddles the Islamic jingoists while traducing Christian leaders whose only sin is speaking truth to power. Take the recent visit of the Catholic bishops to President Tinubu. Cardinal John Onaiyekan, who led the delegation to Aso Rock, told the media that the Catholic bishops decided to visit the president because “the nation is bleeding.” But in an ill-mannered response, Daniel Bwala, special adviser to President Tinubu on policy communication, said Cardinal Onaiyekan “sounded more political than spiritual”. Another presidential aide, Temitope Ajayi, the president’s senior media assistant, accused Cardinal Onaiyekan of “abuse of clerical privilege”. By contrast, the presidency said not a word on Sheikh Jingir’s incendiary comments.
