Implications for national integration babatola adeleye marcus. The few formal bookshops, and the far more numerous marketstalls and itinerant hawkers who sell books, offer for sale pamphlets and popular. The challenges of christians participation in politics by. The fledgling democracy in nigeria and the rising tide o religious fundamentalism in recent years should engage the minds of all well meaning nigerians as we collectively chart a course for the future for which we dream. Oloyede oluyemi national bureau of statistics nbs, abuja, nigeria abstract nigeria has been recording low participation of women in both elective and appointive positions. Pdf on jan 1, 2009, insa nolte and others published religion, politics and governance in nigeria find, read and cite all the research you. Given the abovementioned, scholarly focus has again begun to centre on the politics of religion and religion in. Religion and the making of nigeria reading religion. 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. The rise of nationalism and religious politics in nigeria. Ap comparative government and politics nigeria briefing paper. Religion and the making of nigeria religious cultures of. Focusing on nigeria, today, there are two dominant religious groups in.
Nigeria, the most populous african country with a population of over 200 million in 2018, is divided between adherents of christianity, islam and traditional religion quite similar to polytheism though the exact ratio is uncertain. Religion and politics in nigeria oxford academic journals. 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. The role of religion in nigerian politics essay 7237 words. While this is true, one begins to wonder if the religion as practiced in nigeria is that of peace or violence and conflict. Using a wealth of archival sources and extensive africanist scholarship, vaughan traces nigerias social, religious, and political history from the early nineteenth. As i said at the beginning, religion is in trouble if i may put it. Politics in the first elections to be held under a civilian government in twenty years, in april 2003 president olusegun obasanjo and the ruling peoples democratic party pdp comfortably won presidential and national assembly elections and did well in the governorship elections. Based on original fieldwork in nigeria, ebenezer obadares book, pentecostal republic, confronts the politics of religion after nigerias return to civilian rule in 1999. Pdf religion, politics and governance in nigeria researchgate. 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.
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. This report examines the social and political views of muslims around the world. Religion encourages fanaticism and suspends our reasoning power and we repose full faith in leaders. Sex refers to a persons biological characteristics. With the largest citizenry in africa, one of the largest muslim populations in the world, and a colonial and postcolonial legacy in which national leaders have coopted. Mixing of religion with politics is a dangerous trend because religious attitude is diametrically opposed to democratic feelings.
Many have researched and written on the politicization of religion. We are prepared to make sacrifice because sacrifice will be considered martyrdom. Using what he calls an interdisciplinary africanist perspective, vaughan marshals archival and ethnographic data to support his thesis that christian, muslim, and indigenous. The majority of nigerian muslims are either nondenominational muslims or sunni and are concentrated in mostly the northern region of the country with some. Ever since this merger, the polity has been characterized by ethnoreligious politics which has being the bane to national unity. Conceptualising religion and politics religion and politics are concepts that have been subjected to different definitions from various scholars of repute. The idea for the journal was spawned by a group of researchers working in the area of politology of religion.
An 18 december 2012 report on religion and public life by the pew research center stated that in 2010, 48. Religion, politics and conflict in democratic nigeria find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate. Religion, politics and conflict in democratic nigeria. The politics and religion journal is the worlds first theoretical publication dedicated to this emerging discipline in political science. Religion and politics in sub saharan africa stephen ellis and gerrie ter haar there is a thriving literature of religious tracts in africa. Pdf on jan 1, 2012, hakeem onapajo and others published politics for god.
Religion, politics and morality as means of development in. This paper then shall examine the role religion has played in nigerian politics and its affects on christianmuslim relations. 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 has taken a position of importance in nigerian politics. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. For a good example of how religion affects politics in our modern world we need not look very far but in our own backyard.
Peterreligion, politics and morality as means of development in nigeria european academic research vol. 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. Introduction prior to the advent of islam and christianity in nigeria, the religion of the people was the traditional religion. According to a 2010 by pew research center, muslims in nigeria overwhelmingly were positive towards islamic religion playing a large role in politics. 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. Given the abovementioned, scholarly focus has again begun to centre on the politics of religion and religion in politics in nigerias new democracy. Nigerias flag consists of three equal vertical bands of green, white, and green. Karl marx nigerians are religiously notorious people. In the nigerian case study, the reconfiguration, formation of political parties, distribution of human. 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. Religion, politics and power in northern nigeria kukah, m. 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.
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. In nigeria, religions help us remain in line and stay focused. As a student of nigerian history and politics, i benefi ted enormously. A social ethical analysis of the colonial and postcolonial society and politics of nigeria. 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. Global journal of political science e and administration vol. 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. Several dominant themes in nigerian history are essential for understanding contemporary nigerian politics and society. 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 and political turbulence in nigeria the journal.
Africas most populous nation is equally divided between muslims and christians and much debate persists as to which is in the majority. Religion and politics historically, religion and politics have always played a very significant part in our everyday lives, dating back to the ancient pharaohs of africa to our modern day society, religion have had a profound effect on our existence as a society. In religion and the making of nigeria, olufemi vaughan examines how christian, muslim, and indigenous religious structures have provided the essential social and ideological frameworks for the construction of contemporary nigeria. Monitoring participation of women in politics in nigeria paper presented by mrs. Buhari, regionalism, religion, and politics in nigeria. Religion and political turbulence in nigeria the journal of. Research attention has been shifted now from technological and scientific development to centre on the politics of religion and the democratization. Pdf religious fundamentalism and democracy in nigerian. Islam and christianity are not recognized here to the. 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.
First, the spread of islam, predominantly in the north but later in southwestern nigeria as well, began a. This tacit reali ty has been discovered that not enough justice has. How much influence does religion have on nigerian politics. 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. 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. Chapter 5 how do religious beliefs affect politics. Th e scholarship on religion and society in nigeria is authoritative in african studies. Pdf religion, politics and governance in nigeria insa. 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. This traditional religion meant everything to the nigerian people. Gender refers to the different roles that are assigned to males and females. 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. And to eileen johnson, i express my gratitude for the excellent maps contained in this book.
Future of religion in nigerias politics, by matthew kukah. Feb 15, 2016 the british colonial legacy in northern nigeria. Religion and politics in nigeria religious literacy project. 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. Nov 11, 2008 22 for the notion of fundamentalism as the emergence of puritanist movements committed to the eradication of syncretist practices, see ibrahim, jibrin, the politics of religion in nigeria. Rwanda, burundi, zaire, ethiopia zanzibar, uganda, nigeria, the chad and angola 1. In religion and the making of nigeria, olufemi vaughan examines the imbrication of religious movements, religious structures, and competing political interests in the formation of the modern nigerian nationstate. 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. Interfaith dialogue and making nigeria safe for religion. In this way, religion can play its role in society more effectively.
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