Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, is in the news again. Mark you, he is not butted, this time, for his characteristic blooper or administrative blunder. This time he draws controversy for taking offence after Muslim preacher called him to Islam.

I may not have Solomon Dalung’s level of forbearance but certainly I will never take offense if a PASTOR FRIEND (mark the emphasis) makes offer to me to accept Christianity. Should I blame the pastor friend (who may be inspired by Matthew 28:19 to make the offer) or myself for attending Christian mass regularly?

In one of Dalung’s visits to the Muslim preaching sessions during Ramadan, I heard him extolling the virtues of Islam, saying “only educated people can become Muslims” or word to that effect. As a Muslim preacher, Dr Pantami may be inspired by the fact that in Islam, Da’awah (call to Islam) is the best of deeds.

As a young boy in the 80s, I could remember how Christian evangelists came to our Muslim neighbourhood, house-to-house, in Fagge area of Kano to spread The Gospel. As a pupil , I remember how I catalogued the Jehovah’s Witnesses magazines in my school bag, admiring the drawings. The sketches of Noah’s Ark still lies in the sketch of my memory. Our parents never took offence and nobody maltreated them.

Solomon Dalung’s religious tolerance and sense of cultural relativism are not in doubt. Except Dalung, I doubt if there is Christian minister in Nigeria today whose chief of staff is Muslim or a Muslim minister whose chief of staff is Christian.

Methinks attending or organising Iftar (fast breaking session) is the best way of identifying with Muslims, not donning a funny headgear, attending preaching sessions and talking from all sides of your mouth.