By Professor Ishaq Akintola

‎As the controversy on preaching inside the bus rages on, a human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has dragged Christian intellectuals into the discourse.

‎A statement emanating from the faith-based group’s Lagos headquarters on Wednesday, 12th August, 2026 invited Nigerian intellectuals, particularly lecturers of Christian studies in the universities to join the debate for the purpose of educating Christian clerics and the Nigerian public on the matter.

‎The statement was signed by Professor Ishaq Akintola, the Founder and Executive Director of MURIC.

‎”As the controversy on bus preaching rages on, considering the volatility of the subject matter and its significance at a time when the question of insecurity and the need for peace and tranquility has taken the driving seat in our national conversations, we find it germane to bring Nigerian intellectuals to the table.

‎”The bus preaching controversy is very important because of its close relationship with peaceful coexistence. Nigeria has lost a large number of its citizens as well as properties to religious crisis. An ordinary argument over disturbance inside the bus can lead to riot any time soon. We are sitting on a keg of gun powder.

‎”But having found Christian clerics unwilling to reason along with the National Assembly (NASS) while they have assumed a combative stance against the extant law which prohibits bus preaching and has been in existence since 2007, we deem it necessary to sound out Christian intellectuals with the hope that, like intellectuals everywhere in the world, they will be more amenable to objective, constructive and critical thinking devoid of any form of sentiment.

‎”Already, we find it curious that intellectuals, particularly lecturers of Christian Studies and other Christians teaching and researching in Nigerian universities have elected, for reasons best known to them, to stay out of the fray. We still find it necessary to seek their contribution to the national debate. This should not be difficult as we have several tertiary institutions in the country offering Christian studies.

‎”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?

‎”We believe that the contribution of intellectuals in this conversation is crucial because of the cardinal role that intellectuals play in society.

‎”The bus preaching debate may be disturbing, particularly after seeing the extremist line of argument proferred by Christian clerics and leaders of Christian organizations. But ✝ intellectuals may adopt a different approach.

‎”Edward W. Said described the intellectual as someone whose purpose is ‘publicly to raise embarrassing questions, to confront orthodoxy and dogma… and whose raison d’être is to represent all those people and issues that are routinely forgotten.’

‎”Instead of supporting comforting traditions, intellectuals disrupt lazy and escapist consensus. The role of intellectuals in society is to think critically, not to dance to the gallery. Intellectuals challenge the status quo.

‎”According to C. Wright Mills, intellectuals help everyday people understand systemic problems and feel empowered to act. Susie Orbach contends that intellectuals are there to make a contribution to public space.

‎”This is the time Nigeria needs Christian intellectuals to throw some light on the issue of preaching inside commercial buses. It is our sincere hope and prayer that they hearken to this call to duty.

‎”The book of Isaiah 1:18 says, ‘Come let us reason together’. The Glorious Qur’an also corroborates this when it says, ‘Say, Oh People of the Book, come to common terms between us and you…’ (3:64).

‎”This is in line with our commitment to dialogue as succinctly expressed in the motto of MURIC, ‘Dialogue, No Violence’. We strongly believe that it is better to jaw-jaw than to war-war.

‎”The advent of Christian intellectuals with their informed intervention is likely to save the day. The Christian clerics who have proved very difficult need their enlightenment.

‎”An injunction of the Qur’an says, ‘Ask the custodians of knowledge if you do not know’ (16:43). Nigeria faces dire consequences if we allow the recalcitrance of the clerics to hold sway. The Bible says, ‘My people perish for lack of knowledge’ (Hosea 4:6).

‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).