Nigeria, the giant of Africa as a secular and pluralistic nation must not do anything that could breach religious harmony among different religious groups with the introduction of programmes with secret or hidden agenda that would not uphold the unity of the nation. Whatever the case may be, the truth is that Nigeria is a secular and pluralistic country, as a result, we need to genuinely and realistically preserve the secularity. This is absolutely necessary because anything which tends to favour one religion more than another is not going to do Nigerians any good. It is just like a keg of gun powder waiting to explode.The truth is that lending money to individuals without interest is also in the Holy Bible. In other words, there is nothing Islamic or Sharia about lending money without interest. It is necessary to say that it is also biblical and an interest free banking. To this end therefore, it must be either Islamic/Sharia, Christian or any other type of religious banking or the Ogun type of banking for non-Christians and unbelievers. To this end therefore, we must not bring religion into our political settings or economic lives for it will bring us no good rather than a situation of higgledy-piggledy, in other words, a state of confusion or disorder. Despite the fact that approval for Islamic banking was granted in principle by a one-time Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, a Christian Southerner, it is not for implementation and execution. Such type of banking system, I think and believe needs to be debated by the citizenry of this nation as well as our law makers. Unless we are saying that Nigeria has secretly become a member of the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC), which was debated and outrightly rejected during the tenure of the first and only military president Nigeria ever had, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida popularly known as 'IBB'. In addition, Islamic Banking otherwise called Sharia Banking is a non-interest type of banking in different ways. It is based on Islamic law of economics and works in such a way that follows certain rules and regulations.It is most appropriate to say that CBN should have educated Nigerians more before jumping into the scheme. It is annoying for the CBN to say with impunity that any aggrieved Nigerian should go to the court of law. This is because the CBN will use the poor tax payers money, in other words, other peoples money (OPM) as coined by a one-time Chief Executive of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State. Hamed Olatunde Onipede (of blessed memory). We must be careful how we spend OPM, we must not see ourselves as alpha and omega especially since we were appointed by Mr.President on the ratification of the National Assembly. In other words, we must not be carried away since we are serving the mass audience of all calibres.For us to succeed in our public service assignments, we must see humility as very important since we are being paid with the poor taxpayers money.As a result, we must not make intimidating, vexing and frightening statements no matter the part of the country we come from. Let us consider things that will bring development generally to all Nigerians. Let us not see our offices as more important than the people we are serving or the federal government that appointed us.Speaking recently to newsmen, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), North-Central Reverend Yakubu Pam, disclosed that the idea of Islamic Banking in Nigeria is ill-conceived and quickly called on the Federal Government to prevail on the Governor of Central Bank, Mallam Sanusi Lamido to shelve the idea. According to him, most of the reasons adduced by the CBN governor were not cogent enough to warrant the introduction of Islamic Banking in Nigeria. He said that anything that has to do with religion at this material time in Nigeria should be avoided for the sake of peace in the country.(Refer to Nigerian Tribune newspaper of 27th June, 2011 Page 48.)Looking at the issue of Islamic cum Sharia Banking one can boldly say that the timing is wrong and officially it is also wrong. This is like inviting more religious problems to the country. It is true to say that religion has never been a unifying factor for Nigerian despite the fact that the tenets of the two major religions in the country are centred on peace. It is crystal clear that the issue of religion is sensitive in Nigeria, most of the problems we are having today centre around religion. CBN should consider the peace and unity of the nation rather than focusing on the economic benefits, the peace and unity of this country supersedes any other interest. The fact that Islamic/Sharia Banking are working in other parts of the world that are Muslims-dominated does not mean that it would succeed in Nigeria. If allowed at all, it will, grow and mature to oppress other denominations and the proceeds might be used to fund deadly religious sects. It will definitely put other non-interest banking at disadvantage.It appears this is a follow up to the organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) membership, the Sharia hidden and ,secret agenda, awkward membership of D8 and demands by Boko Haram for the application of Sharia all over the country. This, to me, is impossible going by the knowledge, intelligence, exposure, experience of many Nigerians, Christians and non-Christians. We should think of things that are progressive which will be of benefit to all Nigerians, if we are true Nigerians and not looking at only one angle.It is crystal clear that one reason ethnic conflict often transcend material grievances is that they find expression as religious conflicts. This is so because religion is the core of a community's value system in much of the world because people whose religious practices differ are easily disdained and treated as unworthy or even inhuman. When overlaid on ethnic and territorial conflicts, religion often surfaces as the central and most visible division among groups, especially a situation where most people are either Muslims or Christians like in Nigeria which has been the cause of most religious conflicts. This is a very common pattern in ethnic conflicts.In support of the above, second republic executive governor of old Plateau State and pioneer national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the biggest political party in Africa, Chief Solomon Lar warned that the North might break if states in the region continued to discriminate against Christians.Chief Lar was particularly not happy with the position of many of the 19 Northern states against Christians. Refer to The Punch newspaper of Friday, October 23, 2009 P.1l.In Nigeria according to Chief Solomon Lar, the North, apart from Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue, Niger, Kwara, Taraba, Kogi and Gombe states, other states, discriminate against Christians so much that if you are a Christian or if you are not a Muslim, they will not give you a piece of land to build a church.Furthermore, they will not employ Christians; they will not allow the children of Christians go to public schools. Also, they don't allow the teaching of Christian Religious Knowledge (CRK) in their schools. I think and believe that this is wrong. This type of discrimination must not take place if we are all citizens of Nigeria. The Christians have also been forced to change their names if they must attend. public schools in some Northern states of Nigeria, like asking a Christian to change his name from Gabriel to Jibril, Moses to Musa, this cannot bring true unity. It can also be said that religious differences have led to intimidation, oppression and injustice among others especially in the public service. Where do we go from here according to a popular musician' Don't we think the Islamic Sharia Banking will definitely contribute to religious conflicts and birth of additional religious sects' A stitch in time, they say, saves nine.Soeze can be reached via charlessoeze@yahoo.ca
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