By Bishop Tony Marioghae
Recently, a misinformed religious cleric publicly unleashed hateful rhetoric against Christians while in the company of several governors. This unacceptable behavior was condemned by both Muslims and Christians alike.
The preacher shockingly suggested that Nigerian Christians, who represent roughly half of the country’s population, should leave if they are unhappy with the current government. He failed to recognize an important truth: in Nigeria, elections are not decided by religious affiliation.
Our people vote for the best tribal and political arrangement that benefits them the most through party and regional cooperation designed to yield the biggest political dividend.
This political strategy and compromise won Obasanjo, Goodluck, Buhari, and Tinubu, respectively, the presidency.
Both Christians and Muslims voted for these presidents. It is therefore fraudulent to attribute APC’s victory to the voting power and supremacy of one religion over the other.
Leaders with a medieval mindset and a misguided sense of purpose have plunged Africa into chaos, despite its vast mineral resources, fertile lands, young population, and valuable human potential.
Today, the continent is unjustly disrespected and treated with disdain by the global community, a consequence of the rampant disunity, distrust, destruction, and outright disregard for human life among its people.
This attitude must change; Africa deserves recognition and respect for its true worth. We are better than this. While other countries are aggressively exploring the immense resources and wonders of outer space and achieving groundbreaking scientific advancements, Africa is still mired in internal struggles, including ethnic rivalries, tribal wars, religious intolerance, terrorism, insecurity, and corruption.
It is imperative that we shift our focus from these destructive conflicts to making significant contributions to the global economy and improving our continent’s GDP. Only then will we command the respect we deserve on the world stage.
Nigeria must assert itself as a leader in this critical endeavor, reclaiming its lost glory through visionary, bold, and transformative leadership.
The loudest voices in society are not always the most godly, the wisest, or the most knowledgeable. Volume does not equal truth, and influence does not always reflect wisdom.
When ignorance, misinformation, and disinformation collide with tribalism, religious extremism, weak governance, corruption, poverty, terrorism, and insecurity, a failed state becomes inevitable.
Nigerians must stand firm and insist that the worst elements do not define the promising future of our nation. Evil will prevail if good people remain silent or allow themselves to become indifferent to wrongdoing.
Freedom of speech is a fundamental right guaranteed to all Nigerians. However, when this right is misused to vilify a significant portion of the population and provoke hostility towards them, it becomes hate speech.
Such rhetoric undermines moral decency and warrants serious legal examination. Our laws exist to uphold order, and no one should be permitted to flout them without consequences. It is deeply troubling that a cleric would label Christians as “infidels,” failing to recognize their immense contributions to global civilization and technological progress. We must stand against such divisive language to foster understanding and respect among all communities.
Impact of Christians in society
Christians were instrumental in driving the Industrial Revolution, which resulted in groundbreaking advancements such as electricity, automobiles, aircraft, and telecommunications, along with the formation of modern states.
Visionary figures like Michael Faraday, Isaac Newton, and the Wright Brothers, along with many other Christian scientists, made significant contributions that propelled society forward. It is evident that the most powerful economies, cutting-edge technologies, and strongest military forces are found in predominantly Christian countries.
According to the latest comprehensive global estimates from the Pew Research Center based on 2020 data, Christianity is the largest religion in the world, with approximately 2.3 billion people, or nearly 29% of humanity. In Sub-Saharan Africa (which includes Nigeria), Christians make up 62% of the population. This represents about 697.4 million Christians out of a regional population of approximately 1.125 billion people.
In Nigeria, Christian events dominate the largest religious gatherings across the country. Furthermore, Christians hold the majority of the largest private universities, own the biggest religious buildings, and have expansive networks.
As per the Forbes list of Nigerian billionaires in 2026, an impressive 80% identify as Christians. In addition, 20 out of the 36 states have Christian governors, with the majority of the population in 19 states also identifying as Christian.
Nonetheless, it is essential to recognize that without a comprehensive and credible population census, it is misguided for any faith to claim superiority over others.
Christian leaders and churches have played a vital role in the rehabilitation of displaced Christians and Muslims in the North, showing a commendable spirit of inclusivity.
I urge everyone, regardless of their faith, to adopt this approach.
Nigeria is our shared home, and it is our collective responsibility to unite in building a strong, cohesive, and sustainable nation rather than perpetuating divisions.
It is essential for cultural, religious, and political leaders in the
North to collaborate in tackling urgent issues such as poverty, unemployment, drug abuse, banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, and the widespread insecurity that has left millions of people homeless in this mineral-rich yet troubled region. Together, we can turn the tide and build the Nigeria of our dream.
BISHOP TONY MARIOGHAE is the Presiding Bishop of TEAM International, best-selling author, global conference speaker and the president of Nigerians in Diaspora Philippines (NIDOPHIL).