Photo: Lagos, Nigeria Mosque Allegedly Puts Banner Outside Saying “Jesus is NOT God!”
Ah, Lagos during the Christmas season! A place where every pothole competes with your car’s suspension, every street corner is adorned with fairy lights (powered by the ever-reliable generator), and the aroma of fried rice and grilled chicken wafts through the air like a beacon of yuletide joy. But this year, the holiday cheer has a new plot twist, one straight out of a Nollywood Christmas special.
A mosque in Lagos has allegedly stirred the festive pot with a banner boldly proclaiming, “Jesus is NOT God!” Naturally, Nigerians on social media are losing their jollof rice over this development.
The Alleged Banner
Right in front of the mosque, sandwiched between a kiosk selling phone chargers and a suya joint, the supposed banner stands tall. Written in Comic Sans font (because why not add insult to injury?), the text screams what is essentially the theological equivalent of throwing a bowl of egusi soup into a pot of stew. Eyewitnesses report that it also featured an artistic rendition of a very unimpressed-looking Jesus with the caption, “E don do!”
Cue the Christmas Chaos
Nigerians, never ones to let a scandal simmer quietly, have responded as only they can. Christians have rallied to the nearest WhatsApp groups, forwarding long voice notes from “Daddy G.O.” declaring this an end-time sign. Aunties have begun sharing memes of Jesus captioned, “Still undefeated since 33 AD.” Meanwhile, the Muslims have clapped back with, “We said what we said,” using hashtags like #IsaNotTheSon and #TeamTawhid.
On the streets of Lagos, impromptu debates have erupted. Picture this: one corner has a Christian evangelist clutching a microphone and quoting John 14:6, while a Muslim cleric on the opposite side fires back with Quran 112:1-4. Somewhere in the middle, an unbothered street vendor sells gala and La Casera, knowing fully well that hunger unites better than any scripture ever could.
Politicians Get Involved
Because nothing in Nigeria is complete without politicians, certain leaders have seen this as an opportunity to “call for unity” while secretly hoping to trend on social media. The governor of Lagos State issued a statement reminding everyone that Lagos is a city of harmony where “everybody can insult each other peacefully” as long as they pay their taxes.
One senator suggested erecting a “neutral” banner outside the National Stadium that reads: “Jesus loves suya” and “Prophet Muhammad prefers shawarma.” In his mind, this would bridge the gap and prove once and for all that Nigerian food is the real unifier.
Memes, TikToks, and Clapbacks
On TikTok, creative Nigerians have turned the incident into skits. One popular video features a fictional Jesus walking into a Lagos mosque and saying, “Oya, let’s settle this debate over a plate of amala and ewedu.” Another shows Prophet Muhammad in a group chat asking, “Who approved that banner? This wasn’t in the meeting minutes!”
Meanwhile, Twitter (or X, as the new overlord insists) has become a battleground of clapbacks. One tweet reads: “Muslims be like, ‘Jesus is NOT God’ but still respect Mary. Pick a struggle.” Another counters: “Christians out here celebrating Christmas with ram meat. Aren’t you tired of the hypocrisy?”
The Peaceful Middle Ground
Amid all the drama, a third group has emerged: the fence-sitters. These are the agnostics, atheists, and spiritualists who see this as prime entertainment. Their collective take? “Let’s not argue about who’s God or not. The real enemy is NEPA.”
Some of them have even suggested a joint Christmas-Eid festival, complete with gospel qasidas and halal jollof rice. Their slogan? “Jesus and Muhammad want you to enjoy your December.”
What Would Jesus (and Muhammad) Do?
As the banner continues to spark discussions across Nigeria, one can’t help but wonder how Jesus and Muhammad would react. Would Jesus say, “Love thy neighbor, even if they think I’m not God”? Would Muhammad sigh deeply and whisper, “I didn’t ask for this drama”?
Or, perhaps, they’d both sit together over a steaming plate of pounded yam and egusi, laughing at how their followers managed to turn a season of peace and goodwill into another excuse for bants.
The True Lagos Spirit
At the end of the day, Lagos will Lagos. The streets will remain chaotic, the debates will be loud, and the love for fried rice will triumph. Whether you’re shouting “Jesus is Lord” or “Allahu Akbar,” remember: the person next to you is probably thinking about party jollof.
Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and may your December be as lit as Lagos traffic at rush hour!
www.comments.ng
I came across this on Foluke Martins page. It’s said that this banner is mounted in front of Lekki Central Mosque. This is most reckless and insensitive especially at this time and season from a religion that mouths itself as a religion of peace. Imagine a Church posting a banner with the inscriptions ‘Muhammad is not a prophet’ and mounting it in front of the church what will happen. They’re taking Christians for granted until one day they’ll see what they’re looking for.