SEPARATING RELIGION FROM POLITIC IN NIGERIA

The need for political stability in Nigeria cannot be overemphasized. Indeed, all segments of the Nigerian society (religious or cultural) are interested in the political future of the nation. However, this interest is approached from various dimensions. A major interest in the Nigerian polity is the relationship between religion and politics.

The Nigerian society is religiously pluralized and this significantly influences political decisions and

policies of the nation. On the other hand, there are people who hold the strong opinion that this relationship should not be stressed and that religion and politics should be allowed to operate separately without one interfering with the other. Those who hold this view argued essentially from the position that religion mixed with politics is mostly like to imbibe various vices associated with politics. Also politics may not be properly and dispassionately played if mixed with religion.

Basic Terms  Used

RELIGION: A unified system of belief and practices which unite into one moral community all those who adhere to them (Aderibigbe and Aiyegboyin, 1997: 7) The two major religion found in Nigeria is Christianity and Islam.

POLITICS: The struggle for power which itself is the authority to determine or formulate and

execute decisions and policies, which must be accepted by the society……it is the struggle for

power of governance, especially executive authority.

In recent decades, religion has become an important factor both in public debates and as a means of political mobilization in Nigeria.

Today, Muslim and Christian communities and organizations in Nigeria are publicly questioning the legitimacy of secular post- colonial state. One reason for the importance of this topic is that religions often make strong claims on people’s allegiance, and universal religions make claims on all the people rather than just a particular community. The extent and form of this support is as important to political thinkers as is the possibility for conflict.

The voting patterns of the 2011 presidential election reveals more clearly the extent to which religion has penetrated Nigerian politics, creating a blueprint for division with the Muslim-dominated north potentially separated from the Christian-dominated south. This version of the separation is quite a tempting one as Nigerians are a deeply religious people whose sense of community is intimately related and influenced by spiritual values. Yet such values as loving one’s neighbour as one’s self, turning the other cheek and charity have scarcely been translated across the religious divide.

The increasing lethality of religious fundamentalist groups such as Boko Haram, as well as the killing of over 2,000 civilians by Muslims and Christians in Jos, has raised serious questions about the viability of a united Nigeria. While many will argue that Nigeria’s federalism has achieved a great feat in keeping the country together, preserving its diversity and allowing for 12 out of its 36 constituent states to implement sharia law, the need for peace and rapid sustainable development now overshadows such voices.

Furthermore, the state’s responses to such violence and insecurities have been largely ineffective and counter-productive. The extra-judicial killings carried out by the Nigerian army in Jos, as well as the lackadaisical attitude of President Jonathan, have all served to ‘fan the flames’ of state failure.

The argument is that a Nigeria separated along a  religious divide may allow for northern and southern Nigeria to develop as independent states, where religion transcends ethnicity to create stronger national identities. This will then serve as the fulcrum for stability, allowing for rapid economic development. While many “southerners to-be” would be keen to explore this road because of the economic viability of the region, others are worried about the “to-be north” as a potential source of regional insecurity. Moreover, many are weary that this is a path that leads us backward rather than forward, and cannot be trod without the bloodshed already experienced during the Biafran civil war of 1967 – 1970.

After a cross examination and re-examination of various literature and evidences seen above it is very important to clearly separate religion from politics so that politics will not be adversely affected with any form of religious practices in the country. This can be achieved through the enactment of laws and policies which will discourage the negative influence of religion on politics and clearly separating that which is religiously accepted and that which is politically accepted in Nigeria.