A banner bearing the inscription “Jesus Christ is not God. He is a Prophet and Messenger of God!” displayed at the gate of the Central Mosque in Lekki, Lagos State, has triggered a heated debate across social media platforms.
While many users condemned the message as disrespectful and blasphemous, others defended it, claiming it aligns with Islamic teachings.
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The banner, which went viral on Wednesday, divided public opinion. Actress Wumi Tuase shared her disapproval on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “I don’t like to get into religious conversations but I found it very weird that Lekki Central Mosque has this in front of their gate.”
Criticisms poured in from users like #Fisayo Ojabodu, who said, “You don’t see the banner as disrespectful to other people’s religion. And it is propagating a foolish agenda.” Similarly, user #Adesuwa described the message as blasphemous, emphasizing the sensitivity surrounding religious matters.
Adding to the conversation, FS Yusuf recalled instances of religious violence: “Christianity is actually a religion of peace. In the last two decades, my family church has been set on fire by Muslim extremists for ridiculous reasons… If this write-up was done by a Christian organisation, we won’t be here typing. Until we learn to uphold tolerance, we can’t make progress as a pluralistic society.”
On the other hand, some voices defended the inscription. Silva Bella commented, “It’s not about Christianity being a religion of peace or not… Jesus is not God. I have read the Bible a lot of times and it’s obvious, but I can’t still get why people call Jesus God.”
Countering this stance, GeradTheGreat declared, “Jesus is God, Jesus is your King and Jesus will pass judgment on all.” Another user, Joycccc, maintained a peaceful tone, writing, “We are so peaceful, and we will remain peaceful. We don’t fight for our God; He fights for Himself.”
The tragic case of Deborah Samuel, a student killed over blasphemy allegations, was brought up by user Expope, who remarked, “The late Deborah they set on fire has not done up to this before they all joined hands to terminate her life.”
A more reflective response came from #ChristTheLighthouse, who urged Christians to embrace tolerance, saying, “We as Christians accept criticism, backlash, rejection, and even insults. Our Lord and saviour… received more up to the point of death! He prayed for unbelievers and his persecutors.”
Seeking common ground, Muhammad Shaikhan commented, “The beauty of this drama between Christians and Muslims is that everyone of us knows that God is one. The argument is all about the teaching of Jesus and that of Prophet Muhammad, Peace be upon them.”
From an Islamic perspective, Abdul’fattah Muhdl’awwal insisted, “Jesus himself never said he is God. Hence the quote in that banner is the fact and not blasphemous.” Another user, Olawale, echoed this sentiment, adding, “The message on the banner is true.”
