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The Politicization Of Religion In Northern Nigeria And Its Effects On The Nigeria Federalism
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The Governor, Sir Donald Cameron (1931-1935), in the trace of shift
opposition from the Northern Residents, was so unimpressed by the system
that he described the Region as:
....The sacred North, a land apart,
suspended in place and time... (which)... held up development in the
Region and kept it in an exotic back water, attractive to its
British
protectors but administratively ineffective corrupt, and insensitive to
the needs of its own peoples especially the non-Muslim and
non-Northerners3.
With the successful implantation and consolidation
of the Northern system, Christian missions had to find away to survive
in a hostile environment part of their survival mechanism was to
undertake ecumenical meeting either to counter the restriction imposed
on the missions by Indirect Rule Policy or to see revenues of compromise
with the colonial administration. This led to the establishment of the
Northern Christian movement. With perceived feelings of strength the
mission decided to make to way into the political terrain like their
Muslim counterparts.
Suffice it to say that many years after
independence, religion has determined political victories and decisions
in the Northern part of the country. The heat this has generated and
attendant effect on the nation's federalism stimulates intellectual
investigation such as this.
1.1 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Political
pundits have always opined that political developments in Nigeria have
historical and colonial under pinning'. This statement is an
incontrovertible fact. The issue of the politicization in Northern
Nigeria in particular and the nation in general is one of them. From the
colonial days although the formation of the Jamia Islamiya Mautaneen
Arewa (JIMA) which was formed and led by Dr. R. A.B. Dikko a Christian)
which later became Northern People's Congress and was hijacked by the
Northern oligarchy, religion has been politicized by politicians in
Northern Nigeria to score political goals. This is because religion
appeals to the emotion and psychology of the people and spurs various
reactions usually violent reactions as seen in the various riots like
the Sharia riot that had to do with religion in Northern part of the
country.
Religious riots have often threatened the foundation of
Nigerian unity such occasions have been followed by calls for the
victims of such riots to come back to their home, where they can't be
assured of their protection and safety. This has implications national
integration. There are clear indications that religion will in the near
future play a dominant role in the election of appointment of political
leaders from that part of the country.
What is the effect of
politicized religion on the nation's federalism in general and Northern
Nigeria in particular? This is what this project tends to unravel.
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]This project is basically on the politicization of religion in Northern Nigeria and its effects on the Nigerian federalism.The essence of this study is to look at how religion is politicized in Nigeria and suggests possible ways of resolving its attendants problems on Nigerian federalism.The study is carried out using both the primary and secondary data methods, where questionnaire is used to sample the views of the people in the society, particularly those in Northern parts of the country on is ... Continue reading---
