Whatever reactions that Prof. Farooq Kperogi write up may have generated are not to create war or crisis but to correct the mistakes of the past. There can never be religion war or crisis in Yoruba and by extension in Nigeria . We would talk about it and settle it. The Bokoharam crisis in the north is not even religion war. Both religions had suffered in the hands of the terrorists.
No doubt, mistakes have been made and many are still making those mistakes. If we want to maintain our brotherhood in Yoruba land, we must start from what we teach our children. While growing up, our parents would called our Christians brethren “elesinkeji wa” or “elesin igbagbo” (our brethrens in the second or other religion or belief ). This is the beginning of love created in our hearts to see Christians as our brethrens but you can imagine what the attitude of children you told that the Muslims are “elesin imole” (people of hard religion) instead of the religion of people from Mali . Some even forbade their children to read translated Quran when our parents were careless if we read Bible.
I have written series of write up on religion tolerance in Yoruba land Avoid discriminating against other religion by forcing him/her to compromise his religion beliefs in order to get favour from you or have access to public/government opportunities/ facilities . The case of hijab in public schools for children who wish to use it is still fresh. Keeping beard (and even jumping trousers) has now become acceptable fashion style in Nigeria of today and no one should be discriminated against on that basis.
There was a time in Iree when Muslim Students of Nigeria (MSSN) was forbade to complete the Baptist High School (BHS) mosque in Iree when Christians had converted dining hall to fellowship hall. Forget about the name of the school, it was a community school, it was built by Iree people and not a mission school. It was out of the fact that Muslims were not bothered about the naming of the school that almost cost them the right to have mosque in the school. This type of gesture must always be mutual. No religion adherents must try to play on the intelligence of others. We are brothers and sisters.
Yoruba would say “mo iwa fun oniwa ni o nje orejore”, know your friend with his attitude and never attempt to cross the boundary is what make friendship last. Yorubas are not trouble makers, we must always avoid anything that can create tension. We are all family apart from the fact that our immediate family is made up of Muslims and Christians. Even the idolaters would either called themselves Muslims or Christians.
