A Nigerian political aspirant, Mathias Ezeaku, has sparked controversy after defending his alleged burning of a Bible, saying he did nothing wrong and describing it as a form of retaliation against what he claims Christians have done to traditional shrines.
Ezeaku, who identifies as a practitioner of African traditional religion, argued that the act was a response to what he described as the destruction of sacred objects belonging to other faiths by Christians, whom he accused of labeling such items as evil.
“I did nothing wrong by burning the Bible; I am only retaliating for what Christians are doing to our shrine,” he was quoted as saying.
In a follow-up explanation, he maintained that his action was meant to highlight what he sees as religious double standards, noting that some religious groups destroy the sacred objects of others based on their beliefs.
The statement has generated mixed reactions, with critics condemning the act as offensive and inflammatory, saying he should instead ask fellow traditional worshippers to vote for him, since Christians are likely to vote for candidates who respect their beliefs.
Others argue that the incident reflects deeper tensions around religious tolerance and mutual respect in the country.
