If you have a true Muslim as your friend or an Orthodox Christian, you probably have the only human friend you will ever need. I am fifty years old, however, I have yet to see a people so committed over centuries to the principles of their holy books, like the Muslim Ummah and Orthodox Christians. But because of my background, I will not focus on orthodoxy, lest I be accused of bias. I am not a Muslim, and I am not planning on becoming one in this lifetime. So, perhaps I can be more objective when I talk about the conduct of Muslims.
Sure, there will be those who will misinterpret and twist what prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasalaam) taught, just as there are in Judaism, Christianity and other faiths, but for the most part, they are guided by their devotion to the prophet and worship of God.
From my experience, if you are going on a long trip and are unsure whether or not you will return, give your money and possessions to a true Muslim in trust for your heirs. That true Muslim may be tempted by government money. But NEVER by your own money.
Their lives are very predictable in that their religion makes allowance for everything that will happen to them from their birth to their death. Including how they eat, go to the toilet, dress, raise children, who they marry, when they marry, how they wed, and almost every other quotidian task.
In terms of tolerance, Western dominance of the mainstream media has given Islam a bad name. But for over a thousand years, when Jews were either banned, restricted or mistreated in Europe, they always had a place of sanctuary in the Muslim world.
After the Spanish Inquisition and the expulsion of Jews from Spain, it was the Ottoman Muslims and the Moors of Morocco that gave them asylum. Oh, please fact-check. There is $10,000 in it if you can fault me.
Sadly, the Western media has so demonised Islam. When my book, Shunpiking: No Shortcuts to God, was released, my publisher arranged for me to be interviewed on American Family Radio, one of the biggest radio stations in America, with 180 radio stations.
I used the word ‘Good Muslims’, and the interviewer interrupted me and asked me why I said that. He then said to me, ‘Are there any good Muslims’.
But there are. The vast majority of the two billion Muslims on Earth are decent people. No faithful Muslim will harm or kill you if you say Yeshua, whom you erroneously call Jesus, is the way to God. They believe that He is a prophet. They believe that He is the Messiah. The Quran calls Yeshua al-Masih eleven times, including in Quran 4.157 and 4.171. Al-Quran also uses the terms Ruhullah and Kalimatullah to describe Him, meaning that He is a Word from God and is infused with the Spirit.
They believe that Yeshua was sent to only the children of Israel, which actually agrees with Matthew 15:24, where Yeshua said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
Those of us who follow Yeshua believe that His mission was expanded to include all humanity. But we can agree to disagree with our Muslim brothers, but they will never kill you on account of that difference. Only extremists will, and we have them in every Abrahamic faith.
The only reason for which a true Muslim will kill you is if you blaspheme the Name of Allah (SWT), or prophet Muhammad, Salla Allahu Alayhi Wasalaam, or engage in homosexuality, murder, etc.
Muslim Ottomans ruled Jerusalem for 400 years, between 1517 and 1917. Ask yourself how many Christians they killed. They allowed the building of churches in Jerusalem, they endured peaceful religious coexistence, and when Catholic Europe expelled all Jews, the Ottomans and the Moors gave the Jews asylum in Istanbul and Morocco:
But since Christian Europeans took over Jerusalem and Palestine in 1917, has there been peace? Are Muslims safe there? Is there peaceful coexistence?
A lot of the mistrust between Muslims and Christians started during the Crusades. And again, please fact-check me: the Crusades were initiated and primarily directed and financed by the Catholic Church against Muslims. Muslims were not the aggressors. They were defending themselves.
I am not referring to the conflicts between Byzantium and the Seljuk Turks. I am referring to the Crusades in the Holy Land. And there is another $10,000 in it if you fact-check me and prove me wrong.
And the European Crusaders showed my humanity, sympathy, and decency to Muslims in the Holy Land. Men, women, children and infants were slaughtered. Look, it is a sad fact of history.
Funny enough, as the first Crusaders were coming from France and Germany to the Holy Land, they were perpetrating pogroms against Jews in Europe. If you doubt what your Catholic brothers did, simply research the Rhineland massacres, which were the worst of them.
In contrast, when Saladin fought back and defeated the Crusaders, he showed humanity and mercy by allowing even surrendered Catholic knights to live and have safe passage back to Europe. Again, fact-check me and win $10,000.
So, in Africa, we must begin to see Islam from a different and proper perspective than what we have been conditioned to believe. And especially in Nigeria. Because we are the largest Islamo-Christian nation in the world. If we do not learn to understand each other, oh, I shudder at the alternative.
And if, God forbid, that alternative occurs, those who have poisoned your Christian hearts against Muslims will jejely sit down in their country while we slaughter each other.

Reno Omokri is Gospeller, Deep Thinker, #TableShaker. Ruffler of the Feathers of Obidents. #1 Bestselling author of Facts Versus Fiction:

In the Nigerian parliament, both at the lower chambers of House of Representatives and Senate, decorum, morality and respect are undoubtedly the focrums of what are expected to be upheld at all times. However, yesterday’s incident involving Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has made Nigerians, both those in the country and diaspora, to begin to question the appropriate conduct of Nigeria’s lawmakers.
Yesterday, at the hallow chamber of the senate, during a routine plenary session, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, rose to speak on an important issue. In response, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio publicly reprimanded her, instructing her to seek permission before addressing the chamber, telling her that the Senate floor is not a “night club.”
The choice of words and manner in which Senator Akpabio addressed Senator Natasha has been met with significant backlash from both traditional and social media circles. Many have criticized the Senate President’s remarks as vulgar, irresponsible, and demeaning, particularly considering his role as the third-highest-ranking official in the country.
“Respect is reciprocal,” goes the saying, and in a legislative body that should set an example for the nation, there is an expectation that disagreements or corrections should be handled with tact and professionalism. The incident has not only drawn attention to gender dynamics within Nigerian politics but has also raised broader questions about the standards of conduct expected from those in positions of power.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, a prominent advocate for social justice and women’s rights, has been thrust into the spotlight not for her legislative efforts but for the manner in which she was publicly admonished.
The episode highlights ongoing challenges faced by women in Nigerian politics, where their authority and contributions are sometimes questioned or dismissed in ways that their male counterparts may not experience.
Moreover, the incident has underscored the power dynamics at play within the Senate and the broader political landscape. As a nation striving for inclusivity and gender equality, such incidents serve as reminders of the work that still needs to be done to ensure that all voices are heard and respected in the corridors of power.
Moving forward, there is an opportunity for the Senate leadership to reflect on this incident and consider measures to promote a more respectful and inclusive environment for all lawmakers. This includes fostering a culture where differences of opinion can be aired without fear of belittlement or disrespect, and where lawmakers are held accountable for upholding the dignity of their colleagues.
The incident involving Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has sparked a necessary conversation about respect, professionalism, and gender equality within Nigerian politics.
It serves as a reminder that the actions of our leaders not only shape legislative outcomes but also influence societal norms and expectations.
This is not the first time Senator Akpabio has courted controversy with his public statements. Earlier this year, he made headlines by publicly announcing in the Senate chamber that funds had been deposited into senators’ accounts for their recess—a statement that struck a discordant note among Nigerians grappling with economic hardships. Such instances have raised significant concerns about the priorities and accountability of those entrusted with legislative responsibilities.
What makes this Akpabio vs Natasha melodramatic incident even more concerning is its timing amidst growing criticism of the Senate’s perceived alignment with the executive branch, particularly evident in recent decisions such as the removal of Senator Ali Ndume as Chief Whip.
Senator Ndume’s dismissal came after he criticized President Tinubu and raised concerns about the country’s economic challenges and the hardships faced by its citizens.
This move has intensified public perception of the Senate as becoming increasingly subservient to the executive, effectively functioning as a rubber stamp rather than a robust check on governmental actions.
In the wake of these developments, the incident involving Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Akpabio has further fueled public disillusionment with the Senate’s independence and integrity.
Citizens and civil society groups have voiced their dismay, calling for accountability and a reaffirmation of parliamentary standards that reflect the dignity and seriousness of Nigeria’s legislative body.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who has been vocal on issues affecting her constituents and the nation at large, deserves to be treated with the respect and courtesy accorded to all elected representatives. Her contributions to national issues in the Senate should not be overshadowed by inappropriate remarks that undermine her authority and diminish the sanctity of the parliamentary process.

Ozumi Abdul Anipr abdulozumi83@gmail.com is journalist, columnist, writer and fact-checker.