As we revel in the spirit of the frenzied atmosphere of the yuletide season, we bring to you our readers, warmest greetings and goodwill. Great festivals of popular religions worldwide have always come with particular significance and key messages they want every devout to uphold, aside from the revelry. The Christmas Season like any other also comes with its three significances of love, hope, and joy, and it is only logical to understand that this significance is not only restricted to the Christian Faith but also everyone alive to witness it, as it offers an opportune moment to reflect on our commitment to religious tolerance.
Regardless of individual beliefs, we can all embrace the universal values that this festive period represents and by doing so, we honor the diversity within our community and set a precedent for the much-needed harmony throughout the year. Too many times to count, we have seen various personalities of other faiths extend their goodwill to their followers to show their respect and solidarity towards the community of their followers, promoting inclusivity. A contemporary example of this is the Liverpool Football Club star, Mohammed Salah, currently the centre of media attention due to his annual ritual of posting a picture of himself and family around a Christmas tree. We have seen the reactions of members of the public to this gesture, both in a positive and negative light (especially from his followers of the same faith). This sadly supports the hypothesis that the concept of religious tolerance is merely a theory, incapable of complete implementation at the societal level.
The Salah incident is merely a footnote in the pages of humanity’s struggle with intolerance, in a book soaked with the blood of the innocent on some pages, and bearing the fragrance of flames in others. It is not surprising that the University of Ibadan, a microcosm of the multi-cultural, multi-religious entity called Nigeria, still struggles with this religious intolerance of a thing, despite being acclaimed as a community of intellectuals. The mess reeks from both sides of the two dominant faiths in all hierarchies of the system, from the management to the student societies and fellowships, and it has lingered as far back as the early years of the institution’s inception. It also extends to the landscape of student politics and intellectual differences.
One of the earliest major tensions witnessed is the infamous ‘Cross and Crescent Crisis’ in the late 80s. It was a culmination of brewing tensions, with factors as laughable as a Cross casting shadows in the prayer direction of the mosque leading to a lingering, year-long strife. This crisis required the intervention of the Federal Minister of Education, The Nigerian University Commission (NUC), and the Nigerian Police, and was later resolved with an agreement to erect a screen to shield the mosque from viewing the cross, added with an erection of a crescent around the same area.
While the efforts to keep this tolerance mantra have not yielded maximum results, it is somehow appalling that fanatics, emboldened by their hypnotized convictions still manage to play havoc. The Friday 13th, August 2010 Jumat service could have been a usual one, just like the one held yesterday, Friday 27th, December 2024, but for the unfortunate action of one Seun Bunmi Agunsoye a Christian and a 400 Level Law Student then, who dressed in hijab to gain access to the mosque while the sermon was being delivered. The Imam, Professor M. Oloyode Abdul-Rahmon delivered his sermons and proceeded with the prayers, reciting his Quranic verses—the moment, which was meant to be one of complete quietness and meditation from the congregation, came with a sudden cry from Seun, calling for the congregation to accept Christ as their only way, and that their prayers and prostrations cannot save them from hell if they refuse. She attempted to take to her heels afterwards, but was accosted by the angry congregation. But for the call from the Imam to let no harm befall her and the swift interventions from the Management and Security, she might have been maimed. This single act had a ripple effect of tensions that shook the the University, which, like in 1985/1986, took time to settle.
Even the secular and irreligious students, who stay away from religious matters, ‘minding their business’ and enjoying their interests are not spared. They constantly battle guilt-tripping, needless moral coercions, and shame for their choices from so-called devouts, who think themselves superior. The most recent victims this time were fans of Nigerian artist, Ayra Starr and lovers of music concerts, as they trooped to see their favorite perform on the 3rd of December, 2024. A message from the President of the Association of Uni-Ibadan Christian Students Fellowships (AUCSF), Brother Samuel Apooyin, was widely circulated, admonishing all ‘believers’ to boycott the popular AfroBeats Artist, and labeling her a ‘messenger of darkness’. Admittedly, there is no wrong in admonishing fellow worshippers to boycott an event that goes against your creed. However, uttering displeasing words against a fellow human for her craft is an uncalled for attitude, especially in an environment as secular as the university. It also speaks to the perception held of fellow students who do not hold similar beliefs, and possible treatment of said individuals.
Aside religious beliefs, we all have other interests that are often contrary; politics, morality, philosophy and any other personal lines of thoughts. For politics, in particular, UItes are known to morph into a brand of Political extremists, touting one candidate superior to the other, and ridiculing those who disagree. Just recently, following the CBN Elections where candidates from two of the most ‘politically-inclined’ halls in the University, the Nnamdi Azikwe Hall and the Great Independence Hall, contested for the position of Governor, there were fisticuffs. The cause of this conflict was allegedly because some members of Indy Hall celebrated around the Zik Hall B-Block Basement. People were willing to risk their studentship over blind followership; blind because a number only supported those candidates because of their Hall alliance.
Another example of this political conflict was most recently, in the wake of the Queens Hall fire outbreak on 5th December, 2024. In the later hours of the day, there were reports of verbal and virtual clashes, as individuals from the Nnamdi Azikwe Hall and Ransom Kuti Hall, disputed who provided support to put out the fire, and subsequently progressed into UI’ SU Politics, with supporters engaging in a propaganda battle online.
Actions of fanaticism are not just intolerable, they are hostile to the principle of intellectualism and mutual respect, which should be the foremost watchword of universities. Insults, and any overzealous attempts to force anyone to conform to a particular belief system violates the very essence of what makes faith and other forms of belief meaningful; the freedom of choice God has given us, and as such, it is important for every member of the university community to reject fanaticism in all its forms. The Ivory Tower is a melting pot of diverse background, belief, ideologies, culture and tradition, and these differences should ideally become a source of strength, rather than division. Whether we take it or leave it, how we navigate these differences will determine how ready we are to transform our learning conditions.
Also, it is very important that understand that belief is a personal journey and most times, unsolicited advice on how a person should live their lives is often counter-productive. So long as the ideology does not pose any sort of harm to anyone or a threat to the normal force of nature, no one has the right to dictate how another should live their life–whether through religious doctrines or secular ideologies. By respecting each other’s choices, refraining from painting others in negative lights and guilt-tripping tactics, we can create an environment where everyone can thrive without fear of judgement and coercion, regardless of their faith or worldview.
Our pride as the Premier University in the country, built on the shoulders of men and women who recognized the place of diversity of thought, must be sustained via truth. And what is this truth? That tolerance and unity are attainable. In the last UI’ SU elections, for example, several Banter groups were set up, and served as platforms for healthy — although, not always — debates about political candidates and the political ideologies of certain Halls and Faculties, among others. This sort of discourse, where differences are acknowledged, and yet respected should be the aim of each and every UIte. It’s not uncommon to witness debates among people of different faiths, or no faith for that matter, within the University. That’s the entire point of the system; to inquire and challenge knowledge. That’s what sets the gown apart from the town. Whether through active bystander intervention, reporting inappropriate behavior, or simply choosing to educate rather than retaliate, we all have a role to play in holding ourselves to higher standards of behavior and ensuring that tolerance, religious or not, remains a two-way street.
To end the discourse, let’s turn to the words of the Mr. Bello, father of the titular character, Aliyah, in the former UTME-required text, Sweet Sixteen. “Everybody is entitled to his or her faith. If God had wanted, he could have made all of us Muslims or Christians, but he did not. Why? Because God knows that the most beautiful garden is the one that has different colours and different types of flowers. So the beauty of our country, like the rest of the world, is in the diversity of our people…”
Happy Holidays, everyone!
