A Professor of Comparative Religion at the University of Ilorin, Akiti Glory Alamu, has called for the separation of religion from governance, urging political leaders and religious stakeholders to embrace enlightenment, tolerance and interfaith cooperation as pathways to national peace and development.
Alamu made the call on Thursday while delivering the University of Ilorin’s 304th Inaugural Lecture titled, “The Six Blind Men and the Nigerian Elephant.”
The don argued that many of Nigeria’s political, religious and social challenges stem from misunderstanding, intolerance and the misuse of religion rather than religion itself.
According to him, religion should not be allowed to influence public administration, government policies or political decision-making, stressing that faith should remain a personal matter.
He recommended the “privatisation of religion,” explaining that religious beliefs and practices should be separated from public institutions, including government offices and schools.
The professor also urged the Federal Government to strengthen the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) by granting it greater constitutional authority and political backing to effectively promote peaceful coexistence among adherents of different faiths.
He advocated renewed commitment to genuine interfaith dialogue, saying previous efforts had yielded limited results due to lack of sustained commitment.
Alamu stressed that religious leaders should intensify efforts at promoting understanding, tolerance and mutual respect among Christians, Muslims and adherents of African Traditional Religion.
Drawing lessons from countries where different faiths coexist peacefully, he cited the Interfaith Mediation Centre in Kaduna, founded by Imam Muhammad Ashafa and Pastor James Wuye, as a model worthy of replication across Nigeria.
On politics, the scholar advised Nigerians to stop attributing electoral outcomes to divine intervention, insisting that democratic processes should be driven by responsible citizens rather than religious rhetoric.
“We should excuse God from the Nigerian political process because He does not intrude in politics,” he said.
Speaking on insecurity, Alamu maintained that terrorism, banditry, kidnappings and violent attacks require stronger collaboration between security agencies, local communities and technology-driven intelligence gathering.
He also urged adherents of all religions in Nigeria to embrace the Golden Rule of treating others as they would like to be treated, noting that the principle is common to Christianity, Islam and indigenous religious traditions.
The professor maintained that comparative religion teaches objectivity, fairness and respect for religious diversity, adding that knowledge of other faiths promotes understanding and reduces intolerance.
He lamented that religion has increasingly been politicised in Nigeria, while politics has equally become religious, a development he said has contributed to conflicts and divisions across the country.
According to him, human beings, not religion, are responsible for many violent conflicts witnessed in Nigeria because they distort religious teachings for political, ethnic and personal interests.
Concluding the lecture, Alamu said the message of “The Six Blind Men and the Nigerian Elephant” is that no individual or group possesses absolute knowledge, making dialogue, humility and continuous learning essential for national unity.
He urged Nigerians to promote love, compassion, justice, communal responsibility and peaceful coexistence, stressing that true religion is reflected in human behaviour rather than mere religious affiliation.
