Who Will Save Us: Treason by Invitation — Misdiagnosis and the Death of Peace

 Who Will Save Us: Treason by Invitation

Who Will Save Us? — Misdiagnosis and the Death of Peace
(A Molue Reflection on Faith, Fear, and False Prophets of Patriotism)

Everyone condemns the killings of innocent people.

But to invite a racist — someone doing the very same thing in his own country — to come and “defend” you?

You know what you are really doing?

You are asking him to import his “great” American religious and ethnic cleansing model into Nigeria.

It says, without words, that cultural arrogance is permissible — if you have the bombs and missiles to enforce it.

Treason?

Yes. The country will be pushed over the precipice.

Nigeria will become another Gaza — destroyed.

Relationships between Muslims and Christians set back 199 years, possibly more.

I have watched the shenanigans of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) over the years and I’m baffled by them.

And I keep thinking — is this really about wanting to live in peace?

I’m open to changing my mind once I see the minutes of past peace efforts — reports, reconciliations (or the lack thereof), follow-ups…

Where are their great initiatives?

The last president, a Muslim, proposed ranches and “cattle colonies.”

He was shouted down by this same Christian Association of Nigeria.

“Oh look! Clever man trying to bring his people into our lands through deception — and before you know it, they’ve taken over our towns…”

Really?

Yet it is peace-making that makes us blessed — that makes us sons of God.

That’s what the Bible says. Read it yourself:

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”

— Matthew 5:9 (King James Version)

Part 2: Misdiagnosis: The Real Enemy of Peace

No one denies the heinous crimes being committed by terrorists — said to be jihadists — on a mission to cleanse certain areas of Nigeria of Christians.

No one denies that innocent people are being killed. That is not in dispute.

What some of us are saying is simple: misdiagnosing a problem only makes it worse.

It is an old conflict between farmers and herdsmen — a conflict with ancient roots, one that still happens even in places where both sides are Muslim.

It is vicious, and in Nigeria it has festered because it keeps being misdiagnosed as jihad.

It is a failure of government — an inevitable consequence of 27 years of misgovernance, rising poverty, and with it, hunger and desperation.

Even the herdsmen are victims too.

Their cattle are stolen by armed gangs — rustlers — often of the same ethnicity.

And it is for this reason they carry arms: to defend themselves and their cattle.

And?

And it is these rustlers, I’ve been told, who lead their cows onto random farms.

And?

And angry farmers gather and attack the same herdsmen from whom cows have been stolen.

How did I, an ordinary citizen, find these things out?

Because I returned to actors on both sides their humanity — and asked questions.

We have misdiagnosed the problem.

There’s only one narrative I ever hear: Jihad. Ethnic cleansing.

Nothing else.

Even so, let’s assume it is jihad.

It can still be resolved.

Call a peace conference. Sit down. Explain that we are content with our faith; please don’t try to change us.

Will you sign a peace agreement?

That this is the 21st century — we cannot and will not engage in religious wars.

Let’s be good neighbors — trade, cooperate, and seek progress in areas of mutual interest.

We could even farm fodder for your cows — and pay for newborn calves which you could raise for us.

Deal?

They could also work out a conflict-resolution plan.

If land is the real issue — that too can be resolved.

The government can broker peace, create proper pasturelands for cattle, and invest massively in the beef industry. As mentioned, a former president tried.

Sadly, he gave up and walked away.

Having a body like CAN — which is the main culprit in this misdiagnosis — is part of the problem.

My heart goes out to all Christians in the Middle Belt. But the ones doing them the greatest harm are not the herdsmen alone — they are those who misdiagnose the problem.

In their absence, the elders on both sides — as they did hundreds of years ago —would have resolved this problem themselves. Sit together and talk

And let’s be clear: genocide is not a term to be thrown around casually….

Conclusion: A Cancer, But Not a genocide.

#dk