The urgent need for religious synergy between all adherents as posited by both the Federal Government and the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), could not have been initiated at a better time than now following the unholy move by desperate politicians who whipped up ethnic/faith sentiments to perpetrate mayhem among the diverse electorate for the purpose of victory at the recently concluded governorship elections in Kogi (North Central), and Bayelsa (South South)! Citizens of thirty-four States of Nigeria and security agents watched helplessly, hopelessly and in consternation as political gladiators in the two States engaged youth thugs in blood-spilling clashes that consumed the lives of about 17 people including an opposition female politician, who was burnt alive in her home, on the black Saturday (16th November, 2019), when the citizens should have voted peacefully to elect their preferred candidates!


The atrocities took religious and ethnic dimensions when most electorate rejected all electoral malpractices and refused to be cajoled into selling their votes for peanuts. The constitutionally-recognised and acclaimed “not-too-young-to-rule” youths in Kogi in particular, patrolled the streets in open vehicles, dressed in military camouflages and freely used dangerous weapons to harass, intimidate, maim, injure and kill their opponents unrestricted!
Before and after independence elections in Nigeria had always witnessed violence but must this civic obligation turn into a cycle of perpetual nightmare at every turn of electoral engagements?

At the National Executive Council Meeting of the NSCIA General Assembly held at the Abuja Central Mosque on Friday, 29th November, 2019, Vice President, Professor ‘Yemi Osinbajo, who declared open the 3-day event, commended the Council for promoting religious tolerance in Nigeria because it serves as an important intermediary between Muslim community and persons of other Faith.
The theme was the “Role of Islam In the Development of a Multi-Religious and Multi-Ethnic Nation.” Osinbajo was described by the Sultan of Sokoto as a pride to Nigeria.


ADVOCACY FOR A VIABLE PUBLIC THEOLOGY IS VERY APPROPRIATE NOW!
In the centuries before the two World Wars religious leaders could be said to have been very complacent in the demand for adequate social amenities for the masses – and globally they constituted part of administrative dereliction of socio-economic contract in that regard!

Roman Catholic Church (RC) was regarded as a State Institution and consecutive Popes as Heads of State were accorded with territorial powers plus the accompanying authorities and influences to administer their adherents in constitutionally demarcated areas allotted by the Italian Government according to the law!
Numerically RC is the largest body in the Christendom because its members (about 1 trillion), are found in every part of the world through full emancipation (1829), from politics and other disabilities they suffered in Britain from the time of the Reformation. RC claim Apostolic authority through the unbroken succession, going back to the Apostle Peter, though it had been virtually docile in respect of massive advocacy for social welfare reforms of the downtrodden world especially in Africa, Latin America, the Philippines etc.

A VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS!
However, history recorded the bravery of German Friedrich Gustav Emil Martin Niemoller, a soldier-turned protestant Lutheran Pastor and theologian (14 January 1882 - 6th March, 1984), who vehemently opposed the Nazi Regime STATE CONTROL of Churches and atrocities during the 1930s, and was imprisoned in Concentration Camps from 1938-1945, but narrowly escaped death! After his ordeal, he still regretted that he did not do enough to help Nazi victims (especially semites of Jewish origin), over 6 million, who perished in holocausts because he was deceived by Herr Adolf Hitler, the German maximum ruler who promised not to interfere with neither the Church nor the JEWISH population but later reneged! In his very famous poem reproduced below, Niemoller stated as follows:
“First they came for the Communists, and I did not speak out - because I was not a communist; then they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew; they came for the Catholics and I did not speak out because I was not a Catholic; and, then they came for me - and there was no one left to speak for me.”

NOW, GLOBAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS INCLUDING NIGERIA AND THE DIASPORA ARE VEHEMENTLY SPEAKING OUT AGAINST BAD GOVERNANCE & BAD LEADERSHIP! THEY NOW CRITICIZE POLITICAL/ECONOMIC ISSUES AND ARE DEMANDING BETTER LIFE FOR THE MASSES! Niemoller has led the way and others have followed suit! Sultan of Sokoto is speaking out, the Emirs and Imams are all speaking out especially Abubakar Abdullahi of Plateau State, who saved the lives of over 200 Christians in his Mosque during the June 2018 religious clashes spoke loudly; Archbishop Matthew Kukah is speaking out, Apostle Suleiman, Pastor Adeboye, Bishops Oyedepo, Okonkwo and Praise etc, are also speaking out with one voice that all men (governments and the governed), MUST FEAR GOD AND OBEY HIS COMMANDMENTS!

ISSUES TO BE QUICKLY ADDRESSED! Are the religious leaders not all witnesses to global societal ills, inequity, injustice, unfairness, abuse of inalienable human rights; terrorism, brigandage, kidnappings, ethnic and religious conflicts, discrepancies of abundance and squalor, wealth and poverty, opportunities and disadvantages which have long pervaded all mankind? And should these abnormalities not prick even holy consciences? Challenges of homeless families which have become refugees, and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), have become common place due to maladministration by successive SIT-TIGHT government officials and legislators in developing economies which failed to provide basic social amenities of security, education, health facilities, employment opportunities, housing accommodations, portable water, pliable roads etc, to the citizens especially the majority youths, whom they claimed to represent in government!


THE ABSENCE OF CONSENSUS PUBLIC THEOLOGY IS THE MISSING LINK!
Nigerian leaders especially the crop of politicians who took over from the Military in 1999, have derailed in national conversation, instead of engaging in a rational discourse on the doctrine of Public theology, which is a common denominator to the masses peaceful existence – they chanted instead; Restructuring of Nigeria along the discarded regional system, clamoured for more States creation when majority of the present 36 were unviable, others agitated for State Police, Power sharing/Derivation formula, etc, etc. THE 2014 NATIONAL CONFERENCE WHICH GULPED OVER N8 BILLION OF NAIRA TAXPAYERS MONEY WAS BARE-FACED ROBBERY OF THE COMMON WEALTH BY THE PAST ADMINISTRATION OF EX-PRESIDENT EBELE JONATHAN!


What is public theology?
Public Theology (PTh.), is religious or faith engagement, discourse/dialogue with the larger society which is predicated on cordial relationship between God and His Creation! PTh. Is not a new concept at all, it has existed from the beginning human existence and it was convenient for the United States of America (USA), to imbibe the public theology culture into their public domain and concluded with this motto: “In God we trust.”
Should anyone still wonder why the US remains the “numero uno” (number one), world power nation in military prowess, nuclear armament, economy, politics, social welfare, modern civilization ...... all roads lead to God’s own country!

And what stops Nigeria and Nigerians from emulating the US and several other countries whose democracies have been very successful, lucrative and peaceful for centuries through an acceptable public theology.
NIGERIA DOES NOT HAVE A UNIFIED AND ACCEPTABLE PUBLIC THEOLOGY LIKE THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA! We do not have a deep and broad concept of what God requires of humanity in our public behaviour in a broken, divided and threatened world – but a cacophony of discordant voices which were always at dagger drawn! It is true that everyone has the consciousness of God in a unique way as the SUPERNATURAL ONE in charge of all signs and wonders that are visible in Creation but the most important question is, “What do we collectively believe about Him? According to Martin R De Hann II: “Beliefs are at the root of everything we do. Those beliefs may be unexamined, illogical and blindly tied to our desires. But they are constantly fuelling and shaping what we do. This is why the highest priority must be given to what we belief and why. Nothing can shape human character more than minds and hearts determined to think right about ourselves, our God, our lives and our relationships.”

CONCLUSION: All hands must be on deck: leadership & followership in religious, socio-economic, political and governance issues while greatest focus should be on protecting our human rights through God’s perspectives. This is our collective responsibility as a people and as a nation!
*POLITICS SHOULD BE MADE LESS ATTRACTIVE IN NIGERIA!
*THE SENATE MUST BE SCRAPPED BEFORE 2023 GENERAL ELECTIONS!
*THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MEMBERS MUST BE PRUNED TO 74 ON PART-TIME!
*REMUNERATIONS OF ELECTIVE OR APPOINTED POLITICIANS MUST PEGGED TO RMAFC SALARY GRADES FOR ALL CIVIL SERVANTS!
“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to all people!” (Proverbs. 34:14).
I am, yours sincerely, Dr. David B.A. Olufon,. 08130669886, 08098194390. 08080243066. G-mail- dvdolufon@gmail.com.