LAGOS, Nigeria — The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on Christian intellectuals, particularly university lecturers in Christian Studies, to intervene in the ongoing controversy over preaching inside commercial buses.
The organisation said the intervention was necessary to promote objective discussion and peaceful coexistence, warning that disagreements over religious preaching in public transport could escalate into broader religious conflicts.
Prof. Ishaq Akintola, Founder and Executive Director of MURIC, made the call in a statement issued by the organisation’s Lagos headquarters on Wednesday.
Akintola said Christian intellectuals should educate clerics and the public on the moral and social implications of preaching inside commercial buses, noting that the issue was closely linked to peaceful coexistence in Nigeria.
According to him, Nigeria has suffered significant loss of lives and property to religious crises, making it necessary to handle seemingly ordinary disputes over religious activities with caution.
He said MURIC was seeking the intervention of Christian academics because of what he described as the unwillingness of some Christian clerics to engage constructively with the National Assembly over the existing law prohibiting bus preaching.
“We invite such intellectuals to join the debate on the moral and social correctness of preaching inside commercial buses. Is it a globally accepted practice? Can it engender progress? Will it promote civilization?” he asked.
Akintola argued that intellectuals had a responsibility to challenge established positions, promote critical thinking and contribute informed perspectives to issues affecting society.
He urged Christian academics not to remain silent but to provide Nigerians with a scholarly perspective on whether preaching inside commercial buses promotes peaceful coexistence and social development.
The MURIC director also appealed for dialogue between religious stakeholders, citing the organisation’s motto, “Dialogue, Not Violence,” as the basis for its approach to the controversy.
He said informed contributions from Christian intellectuals could help resolve the disagreement and prevent the issue from escalating into religious tension.
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Akintola further called on Nigerians to seek knowledge and reason together, drawing references from both the Bible and the Qur’an to reinforce MURIC’s appeal for constructive dialogue.
He expressed hope that Christian intellectuals would respond to the call and help provide clarity on the controversial practice.
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