Christians Killed and Churches Burned After Christian Goodluck Jonathan Elected President of Nigeria

Nigerians went to the polls on Saturday and voted for their President in what has been called one of the most "credible" elections in recent history. In the fledgling democratic country that has had major problems with rigged elections in the past, incumbent Goodluck Jonathan (who took over the presidency after the Muslim leader, Umaru Yar'Adua,  passed away in 2010) handily won with 57% of the vote.  Muhammadu Buhari had only 31 per cent, but rumors that the elections were rigged (with little basis in reality) set a series of events into motion which resulted in violence and many deaths, all rooted in religious divisions. Jonathan happens to be Christian and Buhari Muslim- as a result, those opposed to Jonathan's election lashed out, in mobs of thousands, killing several hundred Christians in the north, including the border city of Kaduna, which separates the Muslim north from the Christian south. They also burned homes and at least 40 churches, which then set off a series of reprisal attacks against Muslims and mosques.  And it wasn't just Christians who were targeted, apparently Muslims who voted for Jonathan were also attacked.  

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Nigerian Muslims and Christians have lived in relative harmony for centuries, but since certain areas in the Muslim north instituted shariah law a decade ago, thousands of Christians have been killed.  However, there have been stories of Muslims and Christians going out of their way to help those of the other faith. In Kano, Reverend Habila Sunday claims his life was saved by a  Muslim man who saw the Christian evangelical pastor being threatened by a mob.  The Reverend posed some interesting questions: "What brought together religion and politics? I want to know why when politics happen do they burn churches?"

The answer to the first question is simple: Shariah law is what brings together religion and politics, it's a natural by-product of the melding of the two.  There is no separation of  religion and state in those countries and regions that institute Shariah law, and as a result problems will arise for those who don't adhere to those laws.  As for burning churches, I too would like to know the answer to that question, and add one of my own why must they always resort to violence?   Why must they kill?

A man's religion should have no bearing on whether he is worthy of leading a country, but obviously in Nigeria that's not the case for some. And it seems the violence won't necessarily end, since there are upcoming elections for state governor and local assemblymen.

Sources: St Albert Gazette , Al Jazeera,   Persecution.org