As if Nigeria hasn’t seen enough
violence lately. [Read my blog postings
for February 6th and 8th.] Experts are
warning that elections being held this week may trigger even more bloodshed. The country, which is divided pretty equally
between Muslims and Christians, is going to the polls on February 14th to
choose from a number of presidential candidates. The main contenders, however, are Christian
incumbent Goodluck Jonathan and Muslim opponent Mohammadu Buhari. But depending on the results, February 14th
could turn into “a Valentine’s Day massacre for the poor Christians in northern
Nigeria,” said human rights lawyer Emmanuel Ogebe during his testimony Tuesday
to the U.S. House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global
Human Rights and International Organizations.
“The circumstances that surrounded
the 2011 elections are quite similar to the political atmosphere in the run-up
to the 2015 elections,” Ogebe explained. “Akin to the 2011 elections, the 2015
elections appear to be polarizing into essentially yet another Christian versus
Muslim contest.”
In 2011, Jonathan’s victory over
Buhari triggered widespread violence against Christians in the Muslim north. When Muslim challenger General Mohammadu
Buhari lost the 2011 presidential election, violence erupted in 12-northern
states where he commands a large following from the Muslim population. The final toll for the Christian community was
staggering. In a 48-hour period: over 700-church buildings were burned;
hundreds of Christians were confirmed killed; more than 3,100
Christian-operated businesses, schools, and shops were burned; and over 3,400-Christian
homes were destroyed. Thousands of
Muslim youths in 12-states with machetes, knives, matches and gasoline carried
out this slaughter.
Leading up to the 2015 general
election, Nigeria is dealing with a number of issues that are heightening
tensions, including, but not limited to: religious considerations of the
candidates; the continued Boko Haram insurgency; fear of disenfranchisement
among a large segment of the voting population; and the staggering number of
internally displaced persons. Because of
these factors, which inhibit free and fair elections, lawyer Jadegoke Badejo
said at the hearing that the “fear of political explosion is real.” “In the past, such gathering clouds have
fizzled away with deft political maneuvering and appeasement of the contending
forces,” Badejo continued. “It seems
that this time around, the forces of inefficiency, regional and religious
sentiments, systemic and structural defects in the political configuration and
the endemic corruption have finally consumed the country beyond redemption.”
And what is the U.S. response? Secretary of State John Kerry recently visited
Lagos to meet with Jonathan and Buhari, both of whom gave their assurances that
they’d urge their supporters to accept the election’s results and abstain from
post-election violence. If the elections
are democratic and peaceful, Kerry promised the U.S. would do more to help in
the fight against Boko Haram.
So, Mr. Kerry, the U.S. won’t get
involved in fighting the Islamic extremists called Boko Haram if the elections
are corrupt and violent?
Listen: Christians know no borders. Brothers and sisters are not based upon
nationality or geographic locale, but mutual relationship with Christ
Jesus. Christians are not governed by
diplomatic rapport. The Christian cannot
sit idly by while another portion of the Body of Christ is being persecuted. When we come to the aide of “one of the least
of these our brethren” we’ve rendered it unto the Lord.
Rev.
Dr. Kenneth L. Beale, Jr.
Chaplain
(Colonel-Ret), U.S. Army
Pastor, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel
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