And to eileen johnson, i express my gratitude for the excellent maps contained in this book. Religion, politics and power in northern nigeria in. Sex refers to a persons biological characteristics. According to a 2019 report from the world factbook by cia, about 51% of nigeria s population is muslim, about 47% are christians, about 0. This traditional religion meant everything to the nigerian people. Jun 15, 2011 buhari, regionalism, religion, and politics in nigeria the presidential election held in nigeria on the 16th of april 2011 has come and gone but the dust raised by that election is yet to settle. Religion and politics in nigeria roseline morenike oshewolo and borok andrew maren department of history and international studies, federal university, lokoja, kogi state, nigeria abstract the relationship between politics and religion is intimate because there is always a point of convergence. Pdf religion, politics and governance in nigeria researchgate.
A majority of muslims in nigeria favoured stoning adulterers, whipping and cuttings hands for crimes like theft or robbery and the death penalty for those who abandoned islam. Religion, politics and power in northern nigeria book. Nigerias voyage into the world of christianity began in the 15. Peterreligion, politics and morality as means of development in nigeria european academic research vol. Babangida used religion to obtain legitimacy and consolidate his grip on political power. Given the abovementioned, scholarly focus has again begun to centre on the politics of religion and religion in. Pdf on jan 1, 2012, hakeem onapajo and others published politics for god. Africas most populous nation is equally divided between muslims and christians and much debate persists as to which is in the majority. As a student of nigerian history and politics, i benefi ted enormously.
Former study group directorsenior research fellow national institute for policy and strategic studies, kuru, nigeria. Nigeria, kano state, anambra state, oyo state, religion, politics. It is based on public opinion surveys conducted by the pew research center between 2008 and 2012 in a total of 39 countries and territories on three continents. Religion, politics and governance in nigeria 29 population, and also because of its long history of political rivalry with sokoto, constituted an important win for the party. Introduction prior to the advent of islam and christianity in nigeria, the religion of the people was the traditional religion. The politics and religion journal, vidikovacki venac 298, 11090 beograd, srbija. Religion is often depicted as a trigger factor in many conflicts. D school of arts and social sciences,national open university of nigeria,lagos. Religion and conflict in nigeria countdown to the 2015 elections special reportunited states institute of summary nigeria is by far the largest country in the worldwith a population of just over 180 millionevenly divided between muslims and christians. Pdf religion, politics and governance in nigeria insa. Why religion is so widespread amongst human societies.
In nigeria, religions help us remain in line and stay focused. Pdf on jan 1, 2009, insa nolte and others published religion, politics and governance in nigeria find, read and cite all the research you. Religion, politics and power in northern nigeria kukah, m. Religious beliefs and practices, and why they change. In the long run, it has become difficult to differentiate between politics and religion in nigeria leading to the question of how successful the struggles of the fathers of independence like herbert macaulay, nnamdi azikiwe, ahmadu bello, and obafemi awolowo have been in the course of nigerias history. Conceptualising religion and politics religion and politics are concepts that have been subjected to different definitions from various scholars of repute. Rwanda, burundi, zaire, ethiopia zanzibar, uganda, nigeria, the chad and angola 1. Nigerias climate of conflict and tension has arisen out of divisions in a society where religion has long since been a source of at best lively debate and at other times a cause of explosive violence. Feb 15, 2016 the british colonial legacy in northern nigeria.
A symposium on religious conflict in nigeria may 8, 2007 nigeria is the largest country in the world with an evenly split population of christians. The case assesses religion s overlapping boundaries. According to a 2010 survey conducted by the pew forum, nigerias population has both christians and muslims in a nearly equal ratio, with a small percentage of the population following other religious beliefs such as indigenous faiths and no affiliations at all. Indeed, data suggests that over threequarters of conflicts in the region are coded as either ethnic or religious see sambanis 2001. Religious practice in nigeria is just as varied and diverse as the population, creating a complex and fascinating situation that arises from its triple heritage, of indigenous religious traditions, islam, and. Religion, politics and morality as means of development in. Religion in nigeria plays a major role in the life of the people, to some it is their candlelight, it gives them insight, wisdom, and direction. First, the spread of islam, predominantly in the north but later in southwestern nigeria as well, began a. Religion, politics and conflict in democratic nigeria. Islam and christianity are not recognized here to the. Religion, politics and conflict in democratic nigeria find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. Buhari, regionalism, religion, and politics in nigeria the presidential election held in nigeria on the 16th of april 2011 has come and gone but the dust raised by that election is yet to settle. Nigeria is a large country both in terms of size, population, and importance on both a regional and global scale, and few issues are as central to the national ethos as religion.
Matthew hassan religion, politics and power in northern nigeria. Monitoring participation of women in politics in nigeria paper presented by mrs. Research attention has been shifted now from technological and scientific development to centre on the politics of religion and the democratization. This report examines the social and political views of muslims around the world.
While this is true, one begins to wonder if the religion as practiced in nigeria is that of peace or violence and conflict. In this case analysis, the complex interplay of religion, ethnic identity, and political competition in nigerian society is analyzed in relationship to the concept of social cohesion. Nigerias flag consists of three equal vertical bands of green, white, and green. A social ethical analysis of the colonial and postcolonial society and politics of nigeria. Focusing on nigeria, today, there are two dominant religious groups in. Religion, politics and power in northern nigeria book, 1993. Introduction religion is an indispensable factor in nation building. Religion is a controversial issue in world affairs. We are prepared to make sacrifice because sacrifice will be considered martyrdom. Th e scholarship on religion and society in nigeria is authoritative in african studies. Given the abovementioned, scholarly focus has again begun to centre on the politics of religion and religion in politics in nigerias new democracy. Ever since this merger, the polity has been characterized by ethnoreligious politics which has being the bane to national unity. Ii, issue 4 july 2014 5957 aristotle of the 5th century bc, the aim of politics is to discover first in what mode of life mans happiness consist then by what form of government and what social institution can that mode.
Research attention has been shifted now from technological and scientific development to centre on the politics of religion and the democratization of nigeria and religion in politics in nigerias new democracy. Numerous government programs exist to maintain social cohesion, peace and tolerance in nigeria. Religion, culture and political corruption in nigeria. Religion encourages fanaticism and suspends our reasoning power and we repose full faith in leaders. This paper then shall examine the role religion has played in nigerian politics and its affects on christianmuslim relations. Abstract the persistent religious conflicts and insecurity in nigeria has given meaningful nigerians.
The idea for the journal was spawned by a group of researchers working in the area of politology of religion. Several dominant themes in nigerian history are essential for understanding contemporary nigerian politics and society. Peel skip to main content accessibility help we use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Abstract the persistent religious conflicts and insecurity in nigeria has given meaningful nigerians a cause for deep concern in recent times. Among all the religions in nigeria, islam and christianity record large numbers of adherents and the countrys politics is almost based on the two religious. Religion and politics in nigeria january 29, 2015 general elections are fast approaching in nigeria, where incumbent president goodluck jonathan is running for a second and final term in office against muhammadu buhari, who lost to jonathan in 2011. Chapter 5 how do religious beliefs affect politics. Mixing of religion with politics is a dangerous trend because religious attitude is diametrically opposed to democratic feelings. In the nigerian case study, the reconfiguration, formation of political parties, distribution of human.
Nolte and others published religion, development and politics in nigeria find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. Religion and politics in nigeria oxford academic journals. Nigerias first lady, dame patience goodluckjonathan was the chief host of the million naira event entitled, the african woman. Nigeria, in her 55 years of nationhood, is the most populated black nation in the world. The politics and religion journal is the worlds first theoretical publication dedicated to this emerging discipline in political science. How religions contribute to the maintenance of social order. Religion was not only secularized, but was reasonably politicized.
An 18 december 2012 report on religion and public life by the pew research center stated that in 2010, 48. Implications for national security ushe mike ushe, ph. The challenges of christians participation in politics by. Oloyede oluyemi national bureau of statistics nbs, abuja, nigeria abstract nigeria has been recording low participation of women in both elective and appointive positions. The rise of nationalism and religious politics in nigeria.
Periodic civil unrest in nigeria takes on an ethnic label in some instances and a religious one in others. Pdf nigerian politics has been replete with lots of anomalies and upheavals because the country leaders past and present have dragged religion and. Religion and politics in nigeria religious literacy project. Especially in africa, religion has been at the heart of much of the contemporary conflicts. According to a 2010 by pew research center, muslims in nigeria overwhelmingly were positive towards islamic religion playing a large role in politics. Gender refers to the different roles that are assigned to males and females. Buhari, regionalism, religion, and politics in nigeria.
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