By Adetola Olowu
Some months ago, the United States designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) due to the alleged incessant killings of Christians in several parts of the country.
The U.S. government expressed concern over these killings, suggesting the country’s leadership contributed to an environment where Islamic extremists could target Christians.
While this highlights a serious security issue, it also points to a deeper crisis: a gross lack of religious tolerance.
When the U.S. made these allegations, some clerics from other faiths corroborated the statements, alleging surreptitious plans to Islamise Nigeria.
In many regions, Muslims and Christians are viewed as opposing sides, despite the reality that they worship the same God through different traditions.
Nigeria has increasingly appeared to be a country where both religions struggle to coexist; some leaders openly criticise one another and incite their followers.
Amidst this tension, Primate Elijah Ayodele of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church has positioned himself as a bridge-builder.
He has taken it upon himself to ensure that religious tolerance is embraced, seeking to improve Nigeria's global reputation.
Primate Ayodele’s history of associating with the Muslim community is well-documented.
It is common to see Muslim women in hijabs attending his church services without facing discrimination.
He has preached at Ramadan lectures and openly identified with Islamic clerics for decades.
During Ramadan, he is known for distributing food to the Muslim community; at the end of the fast, he provides chickens, bags of rice, cash gifts, and other essentials to dedicated Muslims.
When the U.S. government raised the alarm regarding Christian genocide, Primate Ayodele, despite being a prominent Christian cleric, dismissed the singular narrative.
He clarified that Christians are not the only victims of insecurity, noting that Muslims are equally affected.
He argued that the situation should be framed as religious genocide rather than Christian genocide, as both faiths are targets of extremist violence.
Predictably, Ayodele faced backlash. Critics questioned his motives, yet he refused to back down, continuing to preach against divisive narratives.
He eventually took the extraordinary step of building a mosque. For a Christian pastor, such a move is nearly unheard of and was met with intense controversy.
Critics predicted his members would desert him, or claimed he was seeking attention. Undeterred, he completed the mosque within months, and it is now fully operational.
His actions have faced resistance from sections of the Christian community rooted in long-held misconceptions.
However, Ayodele’s commitment to unity appears to be sparking a trend. Recently, a Celestial prophet was seen observing a pilgrimage in Mecca, and a Muslim politician recently invited a Christian prophet to speak at a Ramadan lecture.
In recognition of these efforts, the Arewa Gamji Emirate Royal Council from Kaduna recently conferred the Wambai Gamji title upon Primate Ayodele at his Lagos church.
While more accolades are likely to follow, the Primate maintains his actions are driven by divine instruction, not a desire for fame.
By bridging the gap between faiths, Primate Ayodele has established himself as a true pacesetter for religious tolerance in Nigeria.
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