Christian–Muslim Harmonious Coexistence in Nigeria: An Imperative for Peace and National Development

Abstract

Nigeria is a pluralistic society where Christianity, Islam and African Traditional Religions exist. There is ongoing sour relationship which impeded Christian–Muslim harmonious coexistence in Nigeria today, which the paper attempts unraveling. The paper discovered that religious coexistence between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria has not been so fruitful and is under threat because, there is suspicion, mistrust and lack of mutual respect for religious liberty especially for one to express his or her religion today. Lack of harmonious coexistence between Christians and Muslim has led to loss of human lives and destruction of places of worship which are impeded full realization of mutual coexistence of the duo faiths. The methodological approach used in this paper is prescriptive, analytic and comparative. Data collections is from empirical observations, selected interviews and selected books. The paper recommends the need for Christian-Muslim harmonious coexistence to be built on a collective search for justice, tolerance, trust, love eschew of religious chauvinism for the realization of harmonious coexistence of the duo faiths for peace and national development to be realized. There should be inter-religious board for the promotion of harmonious Christian–Muslim relationship where common solutions for religious freedom, tolerance, love and peace would be encouraged and sustained for peace and national development of Nigeria.