CHRISTIAN AND MUSLIM RELATIONSHIP IN ILORIN METROPOLIS: A MODEL FOR PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE IN A MULTI-RELIGIOUS SOCIETY

Abstract

The experiences of religious violence between Christians and Muslims in many states in Nigeria have being frequent especially from 1980s. In recent times, religious violence has being almost a yearly ritual with its attendant loss of lives and property. While some have argued that attempt to establish Islamic state has been the main cause of the menace, many are of the view that intolerance and lack of cooperation between leaders of the two faiths are the major factors for violence. In the case of Kwara State, Ilorin City has been adjudged widely in Nigeria as dominated by Muslims, yet other faiths are accommodated especially Christianity. Consequently, the state is being referred to as State of Harmony. This paper examines the relationship between Christians and Muslims in Ilorin metropolis with an ex-ray of the ingredients for their peaceful co-existence, so as to serve as a model for other multi religious states in Nigeria. The paper employed historical and empirical methods. The findings revealed that though some religious violence have been experienced in Ilorin metropolis, inter-religious committee has been able to manage the crises and adherents of the two faith live together in peace without intimidations. The ingredients of their peaceful co-existence include religious tolerance, equal opportunities in social Medias, social interactions, fairness in appointments to political offices and establishment of inter-religious committee among others. It is therefore recommended that continuous dialogue, religious tolerance, social interactions by religious leaders and fairness in appointment which serve as basis for peaceful co-existence by adherents of the two faiths in Ilorin metropolis, should also serve as way forward for a peaceful coexistence among people in multi-religious states.