By Bamidele Johnson
I just drove past a shrine to Ogun, the Yoruba god of iron, on my way back from the Agbado train station. Standing beside it were signposts of two churches. In front of them fluttered a flex banner advertising the Ogun Ajobo Carnival, an event dedicated to the same god of iron. I do not doubt that there is a mosque in the neighbourhood. There is, in fact, a large one about three hundred metres away.
The shrine and the banner do not constitute an irritation, or sufficient irritation, to the Christians and Muslims in that area. If they did, the shrine would have been levelled in holy fury and Ogun adherents run out of town as though they had no right to their belief.
That would not have been the case in Ilorin, a predominantly Muslim town, whose indigenes tout it as being on the outskirts of Al-Jannat. On current evidence, it is safe to assume that the shrine would have been torched and the chief priest, as well as worshippers, chased out of town.
If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it is a duck. Ilorin is a religious rights sinkhole. Defo. A few days ago, the home of a female priest of a traditional deity was burnt down by people said to be Muslims. The police have announced the arrest of three persons in connection with the incident.
I do not expect anything to happen to those men beyond being high-fived, back-slapped and given Chi Vita as refreshment, since their religion forbids liquor.
Some months ago, Isese people were prevented from holding their festival by some Ilorin Muslims, who appeared persuaded that these people had no right to freely express their beliefs. They were abetted by the police, who forbade the festival, arrested the leader and ran the congregation out of town.
This is clear persecution, generously assisted by the police. There is no compulsion in religion, Islam teaches. One wonders why Ilorin Muslims appear indifferent to that injunction. What is required is to speak out, loudly, and invite attention to what is clearly a structural denial of constitutionally guaranteed freedom.
Every lover of democratic freedom should find this offensive. There are Muslims elsewhere who do not interfere with the faith of others, as long as such practices do not infringe on the rights of anyone. Ilorin may be next to Al-Jannat in the bigoted imagination of some of its Muslims, but they should move to Al-Jannat rather than oppress people who possess the same rights.
This is often the problem with religious majorities. They treat minorities as though they do not matter. Where they are minorities, they say they only want to practice their religion in peace. Once they have the numbers, they insist their beliefs must become the constitution for humanity.
We have seen this with Muslims and Christians. It would likely happen if traditional religionists ever become majorities, though that seems unlikely given the might of the imported creeds.
Still, attention must be drawn to this. It is immoral as it is illegal. That it enjoys the assistance of state actors makes it more depressing. Rights must be respected.
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