Gombe’s Religious Confluence
For the first time, perhaps, in Nigerian’s history, the country’s two leading religions, Christianity and Islam, find a meeting point
By Levinus Nwabughiogu
The 301 Artillery Brigade Gombe metropolis, Gombe State, sud-denly became a beehive of activities on December 12, 2008. It had more individuals than the usual patronisers of the beer parlors and other shanty eateries that dot the premises popularly called “Mammy” on that night. Of much concern to the people around was not the huge number of persons, but the mattresses and other personal effects they clutched so tenaciously. The scenario evoked fear. And just then, word reached many ears that apprehension was growing in other parts of the town. At other security zones like the police stations, people: men and women, young and old, mostly migrants from other states of the federation but resident in Gombe, negotiated spaces with the security officers in their apartments, offices and other places small enough to hide and protect them. Those who slept in their houses kept vigil, monitoring the night, while those who foresaw the situation either left the state or travelled to the hinterlands. In fact, the situation prompted early traveling of many Christians from the East for the Christmas and New Year celebration, which were then only a fortnight away.
While the development lasted, areas such as Nassarawo, Yelenguruza, Federal Low Cost, and Hawa-Gana were heavy with rumours of planned attacks on churches and other buildings belonging to Christians. That period, the unusual police and Army patrols, blaring of sirens and heavy presence of security personnel– both in uniform and mufti – could but only stamp the impression that something was, indeed, in the offing. On their own, churches, The Source gathered, embarked on unscheduled prayers for God’s intervention in the fragile situation. And God really did.
The reason for the situation was not far-fetched. There had been rumours and counter- rumours of reprisal attacks. Somehow, the November 2008 local government elections in Plateau state had snowballed into a religious crises between Christians and Muslims. The war raged as to who owns and controls Jos North Local Government Area. Of course, it left an unprecedented blow on the psyche of the state. Many people including Akande Olalekan, Akinjogbin Oluwatosin and Odusote Oluwole, three young corps members from the South west who were killed serving their fatherland in Jos, while also recording the destruction of properties valued at billions of Naira. Even now, lasting remedies to the ugly development are yet to be found.
A few weeks later, like a typical Nigerian society dominated by blood demons who cash in on religious/tribal sentiments, the crisis spread, escalating to Bauchi State where a pocket of damage and outright deaths were recorded. Having assumed that dimension, expectedly, The Source gathered that apprehension swept all over Gombe, a neighbouring state of about 150 kilometre’s drive just as hearts ceaselessly palpitated. But the ugly incidents were averted as the State government swung to action, marshalling out measures and strategies to calm the situation. Indeed, The Source learnt that series of meetings were held between the Emir, the Police, Muslim Leaders and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). 
The Source also gathered that at the press briefings, the state Commissioner of Police, Joseph Ibi, a lawyer, told the people that the police was battle ready for any group of persons who wanted to foment trouble. The Commissioner also reiterated this stand at another meeting he held with the leadership of state chapter of CAN and the Muslim leaders and urged those taking refuge at the police barracks and the likes, to return to their homes.
Indeed, the peace talks and other strategies adopted by both the government and the police nipped in the bud, what would obviously have been a bloody religious war and later returned to the state.
But no sooner had the people heaved a sigh of relief than the North, a hotbed for religious crises since the 70s, witnessed another mayhem. This time, novel and unprecedented. Only in July, 2009, a body of Islamic leftists known as Boko Haram and led by one, Ustaz Mohammed Yusuf, now late, attacked some police formations and other public buildings in Maiduguri, Borno state, killing a couple of officers and men of the Nigerian Police .
Unknown to the security agents, the group had planned a strategic but simultaneous attack on the police in the entire Northern region. It had its members scattered almost in all states of the North. Thus, Pokistum in Yobe State, Bauchi and Kano states got their own share of the terror. Then, again, tension brewed in Gombe, a state in the heart of the North east geo-political zone. Since then, reports have been made on various arrest of the group’s remnant in some parts of the country.
But yet unsatisfied, the Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Danjuma Goje, The Source learnt, came out boldly and condemned in its entirety the group, Boko Haram, and their dastardly acts. The governor went on to announce measures to forestall any encroachment into his territory by the group.
Since the promulgation of the Sharia legal system, first in Zamfara State in the early stages of the return of democracy the Northern region has been obsessed with it. While there are calls to replicate the system across board, some Islamic fanatics and fundamentalists have ceaselessly found trappings in it to unleash mayhem on adherents of other regions. This has always culminated in a somewhat fierce war between the Christians and Muslims.
Gombe State, since Goje came on board as governor in 2003, The Source gathered, has had more forces to contend with. Those elements, The Source learnt, have heavily pressured the governor to toe the path of Zamfara State. But just as the pressures continue to come in torrents and quick flurry, the governor appears to have developed resilience and doggedness in warding them.
At different times, The Source gathered that the cloud of crisis had gathered in quanta, but the governor quashed it.
For instance, the governor recently averted what would have culminated into orgy of unprecedented religious crisis in the state at the Nassarawo Quarters of the capital city, when he donated the sum of N10million to the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) for a new church building after he had given the church another plot of land to relocate the church. The Source learnt that the church, before then, had been in dissension with a mosque and the residents of the area, who are mainly Muslims. And not too long ago, the Muslims at the quarters made a case that the church be relocated. They cited some reasons which included heavy presence of Muslims whom, they said, owned the place originally. Problems had just started brewing when Goje intervened with the offer of a new site and N10million for the erection of another church building.
As if that was not sufficient, Goje, while he released fund for the construction of a central mosque for the Muslims, also fulfilled his promises to the Christians by giving CAN a parcel of land for the building of their secretariat and the donation of N100million for financing the project. So far, the ultra-modern, gigantic building has reached an appreciable level.
On September 26, 2009 at well attended function in Abuja, the National Youth wing of CAN honoured Goje with an award. Many people are of the opinion that it is an extra-ordinary award to an extra-ordinary person. This is because, for the first time in the history of the nation, the two religion – Christianity and Islam-found a meeting point.
For the first time also, a Youth wing of a religious organisation such as CAN, found a full- blooded Muslim worthy of an award. Again, many said that for the fact it is coming at this time shows that Nigerians have resolved to live in harmony irrespective of their cultural and religious leanings. The Source’s findings revealed that while many favoured the views that the award goes beyond appreciating a governor with a detribalised heart, others opined that the presence of the erstwhile Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana, the former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, Emirs and governors at the occasion, made it thick and real.
While the award has, indeed, promoted religious harmony and peaceful co-existence of Christians and Muslims beyond the shores of Gombe State, the CAN chairman, Gombe State Council, Reverend Abare Kallah remarked: “Remember the story of those who Jesus healed. One of them came back to show appreciation. As Christians, appreciating somebody is an indication that the person can do more things.  It is something that is first of its kind. Not only in Gombe. It has touched the hearts of many states in Nigeria. It is expected that the gesture will promote the religious harmony of the two leading religions: Islam and Christianity.”.
Reverend Kallah also said that by the actions of the governor, the seed of equity, justice and fairness is being sowed as Goje’s successors will henceforth recognise the two religions in order to strike a balance.
Alhaji Yaya Hammari, a community leader and chairman, Health Welfare Committee, Jamatu Nasaru Islam (JNI), Gombe state, told The Source that though the award is individualistic rather than religious in nature as both religions were not contacted on the issue, the award is, nonetheless, commendable.
The Islamic scholar applauded the governor for the honor.
The State Director, National Orientation Agency, Solomon Ado said the ability of the governor to ensure relative peace and stability earned him the award.
Ado: “The award is well deserved because Gombe is an example of a state where the government has continued to be fair to all the citizens irrespective of the differences in religion or ethnic background.  Gombe is a state where for a very long time, His Excellency, the governor, made it very clear that he was not going to tolerate any crisis that is based on religion and of course, every resident of Gombe knows there are so many instances, where crises which emanated from other states of the federation could not find a place here in Gombe. The most recent example is that of Boko Haram, where we saw states that bordered Gombe were engulfed in the crises. But in Gombe, His Excellency took a decisive action to ensure that Gombe was completely insulated from this particular crisis. Residents in the state disclosed that His Excellency has continued to provide equal opportunity for Christians and Muslims to practice their religion.”
The National Youth Service Corps(NYSC), another scheme that moves Nigerian youths about, but which so many parents have become skeptical about because of the safety of their wards posted to the North is, however, saved such anxiety in Gombe. While they decry the death of some corps members in related crisis in some states, Gombe state has no such ugly record. On this, the NYSC Gombe State Public Relations Officer, Tony Ekirigwe, said it has been peaceful in Gombe state. Though his concept of peace is divine, he however admitted that God uses man to accomplish it. The PRO commended CAN for honouring Goje whom he said has achieved a lot to earn him the prestigious award.
As the state continues to relish this healthy development, The Source reliably gathered that it is the wish of the citizenry that other governors, especially in the north, will emulate Governor Goje’s track record in religious compatibility and peaceful co-existence of the adherents of the Christian and Islamic religions.