Consequent upon the tension that the All Progressives Congress (APC) Muslim- Muslim Presidential ticket has generated in the polity, the Edo State Deputy Chairman, Chief Jarret Tenebe had earlier led a group of Christian leaders to worship at the Jattu Central Mosque for last Friday Jummat service.
Today again,Chief Jarret Tenebe led some Muslim leaders to the Omega Fire Ministries for Sunday service. An elated and surprised Apostle Suleiman on sighting the state Deputy chairman with some recognizable Islamic leaders in Etsako west in the congregation declared that the practice of different religions should be the least issue in Nigeria.
That it should not be any basis for discord. Apostle Suleiman was born a moslem before his conversion to Christianity and God using him mightily to bring lost souls to His kingdom.He has ,out of his Christian beliefs,taken generosity to high levels.
Till date, Suleiman has a lot of relatives who are Moslems and does not discriminate in his dealings with them.
In his sermon; *processing*, on the day,the Apostle stressed that every thing in life must pass through a process and that the more resounding and blessed the project is the greater the obstacles and criticisms that will be faced. He reiterated that obstacles and criticisms are not necessarily destructive but meant to be surmounted to achieve ones goals in life. Apostle Suleiman before the end of the service performed a miracle by making a blind man see , in the presence of the Muslim clerics who accompanied the state deputy chairman. And they all concluded that indeed Apostle Suleiman is called of God.
The Apostle met briefly with the State Deputy chairman and his entourage after the *Service* . At the meeting they both agreed that Nigeria is more important than any argument about religion. The Apostle accepted that he had become more aware of the issues at stake in respect of the APC Presidential ticket.
The issue of religion in Nigeria, particularly the Christian – Muslim dichotomy is lifted to the front burner by the Nigerian elite for selfish and self-serving motives. It remains an instrument in their hands to advance their course and keep the average Nigerian pauperised, oppressed and subjugated. When the State Deputy chairman was asked why he decided to worship at a mosque and church with adherents across the two major religions, he explained thus”the economy does not recognize religion, security does not know religion and effective leadership does not speak religion” He further explained that the ordinary Nigerian is in dire need of capable, effective and competent leadership to lead the country out of the economic hardship and insecurity bedeviling her today.
It could be recalled that since the presidential candidate of the APC, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu unveiled Senator Shettima, serving senator and former Governor of Borno State as his running mate ,the nation has been white-washed with negative ,and sometime ,disturbing and unsettling commentaries.
While Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken time to explain to Nigerians that capacity and competence were his considerations in the choice of a running mate, religious bigots and chauvinists have tried to make a mountain out of a molehill calculated to blackmail the APC and her candidate, cause disharmony and score cheap political gains.