INTERFAITH COEXISTENCE: Vulnerability in turbulent periods

President Bola Tinubu's first three years in office have been marked by a sense of peaceful coexistence among Nigerians, a notable achievement given the country's history of discord and strained relationships among its diverse population.

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This accomplishment is all the more significant when viewed in the context of the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, which deeply polarized the nation and exacerbated ethnic, regional, and political divisions.

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The Buhari administration's tenure was characterized by intense conflicts in Southern Kaduna, Plateau State, and the agitation by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, which threatened national cohesion and created an environment of suspicion among Nigerians.

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The state's response to these conflicts only served to further intensify national divisions, weakening the government's ability to protect citizens from ethnic militias and creating an atmosphere in which loyalty to ethnic and regional identities often took precedence over commitment to the nation.

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When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took office on May 29, 2023, he inherited a nation sharply divided along multiple fault lines, a testament to the profound impact of the preceding administration's policies.

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Unlike leaders such as Lee Kuan Yew, who transformed Singapore into a cohesive nation through a Confucian-inspired nation-building model, or President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, known for his austere vision and relentless vigour, Tinubu has not embraced a similarly transformative approach to nation-building.

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Despite this, his leadership has been marked by a fragile but growing sense of harmony within Nigerian society, a development that is all the more notable given the persistent accusations of "Yorubanisation" of strategic appointments and the controversy surrounding his Muslim/Muslim ticket.

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In Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew applied Confucianism as a pragmatic ideology to build a disciplined and stable society, as noted by Frank Alvin in his book, The Last Confucian: Lee Kuan Yew, which highlights the importance of order and predictability in nation-building.

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According to Alvin, Lee Kuan Yew's approach set a basis for nationhood, but also raised important questions about civic participation and personal liberty, and his emphasis on economic growth, individual mobility, and social inclusion as the building blocks for stability offers valuable lessons for nations around the world.

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Analysts argue that President Tinubu's personal strength as a political dealmaker across ethnic groups may be a key factor in the relative stability observed in Nigeria over the past three years, a view that is supported by his reputation as a builder of political bridges.

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Tinubu's ability to forge constructive relationships with power brokers across party lines, even before assuming the presidency, has been widely acknowledged, and his capacity to maintain these relationships has contributed to the cohesion of his administration.

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However, the longevity of this perceived harmony is uncertain, as underlying grievances in Nigeria often resurface, and the nation's unity has historically been tested by differences in identity and questions of fairness in the distribution of power and opportunity.

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Ultimately, whether this moment of relative calm endures will depend on the state's ability to convert elite-level accommodation into broader national inclusion, as no amount of political networking can permanently suppress the deeper issues that have long plagued the nation.