The enmity between the Jews and the Arabs dates back to the animosity between the two wives of Abraham, Sarah (the mother of Isaac) and Hagar (the mother of Ishmael). Based on that animosity, the Jews (Isaac’s descendants) and the Arabs (Ishmael’s descendants) have never really united. Ditto the religions of Judaism and Christianity which originated from the Jews, and Islam which originated from the Arabs.

How that animosity became Africa’s infection is the question reasonable Africans must ask themselves. You need to see tension even at academic conferences in Africa by Africans if discussion touches on the crisis in the Middle East. What type of God were the Westerners and the Arabs talking about? Could it be a contentious God that is forever pregnant with animosity and desire to either dominate or kill?

That would seem to be the only type of God totally unknown to African ancestors/ancestresses. But not the Supreme Being who created heaven and earth; described as omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, invincible, but forever merciful in African proverbs, pithy sayings, folksongs, etc. Christian missionaries came from Europe and North America to build hospitals as humanitarian gesture, and schools to convert and de-Africanize
upcoming generations of Africans. Their success in the latter regard became the envy of Muslims, and they have resolved to reverse it. The struggle between the former Governor of Lagos State, Lateef Jakande and Archbishop Olubunmi Okojie, and the recent defacing of schools taken-over from the missionaries in Osun State represented a clearest determination of Muslims to undo what they consider “the damage” done by the missionaries.

For thoughtful and self-respecting Africans, “the damage” is that the missionaries used their schools to de-Africanize Africans and rubbish the intellectual integrity of African forebears. For the Muslims, on the other hand, “the damage” refers to how the missionaries outsmarted them, and the deed has to be reversed. Similarly, some fanatical Christians seek to return the taken-over schools, towards advancing de-Africanisation of Africans. That is how Christianity and Islam endanger Nigeria’s soul, peace, and progress. The drivers of the two religions seek nothing but earthly kingdoms.

• Pius Abioje,

University of Ilorin.

Point of correction. Christianity, a Religion that means "Worship God in His Holy Spirit in Christ Jesus" and Islam which means "Worship God" can never spoil Nigeria. Mulims and Moslems of sunnis and shiite divisions are the tribes spoiling Nigeria. FG MUST DO SOMETHING TO STOP THEM!!!