Nigeria's Religious Wars Flare Again

On January 19th, religious violence flared up once again in Nigeria after some Islamists torched a Roman Catholic Church filled with some worshippers. At least 27 people were reported killed in the burning of the church. This is not even the start of the religious war between northern Nigeria's Muslims and Christians. The Sectarian rioting nearly left 1,000 people dead in 2001. Another fight in 2004 killed nearly 700 people. In 2008, 300 people died due to yet another fight over religion. According to UPI, the religious divide "figures" in the constitutional crisis that emerged when the President of Nigeria, Umaru Yar'Adua was taken ill on November 23, 2009. They say that it left a "increasingly dangerous political vacuum in his wake." The reason being is the President is a Muslim northerner and the vice president, Goodluck Jonathan, is a southern Christian. Under constitution, the president should have transferred his power to the vice president but it would cause conflict. It would create havoc because there is a unwritten agreement between north and south saying that a Christian should not take power when a north has post. Yar'Adua's prolonged absence has also caused some stress in this religious war. Oppostion parties have demanded they have proof that he is still alive. On January 11th, a very ill Yar'Adua had a interview with BBC saying he will recover soon and be back on his post. Even though courts said that Jonathan had the right to begin assuming power, there was no indication that he would receive any. Therefore, who was going to resolve the ongoing religious war between the Muslims and Christians?

I really don't understand the ongoing war between Muslims and Christians. I mean can we not accept everyone's religion? I has shocked me that people are killing others just because they don't have the same religion. To add to that, the government can't do anything because the president is clearly ill and they won't allow the vice president to assume power just because he is a Christian. If they are going to go by their "unwritten" law then they need to actually pass a law. I think its more of a culture shock because I am used to America's way. In America, that doesnt happen. Of course, we get into little conflicts with religion but its not major and we are definitly not killing people. I think they need immediate action in Nigeria regarding the war.

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2010/01/19/Nigerias-religious-wars-flare-again/UPI-84221263927366