The Role of Religion in Nigerian Politics

Nigerian flag designed with the shape of the country's map; sour: Uzochukwu Mike

It is interesting to know about this. Religion is an important player when it comes to politics in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Nigeria as a country is made up of people who are notoriously religious. In Nigeria, religion is mixed with politics. You cannot separate this two no matter what. Notwithstanding the level of the religious practices in the country, evil still multiplies.

There are two major religious group in Nigeria. They are Christianity and Islam. So, if you are planning to contest for any political position in the country and want to go far, you have to make sure that you have a link to any of the two. Anything that will make you not to do that, forget it you will never go far. Religion is an important player and the attitude of citizens voting candidates into political positions without checking the credibility of the contesting candidates have really impacted negatively to the country's development.

Religion and sentiments have been the enemy to development in Nigeria. Because the person is a Christian, a fellow Christian votes for him. And because that candidate is an Islam, a fellow Muslim votes for him. The voters do not even care to know whether the person is a criminal or not. What they capitalize on is that they worship in the same religion. Whether the candidate will turn the country to hell later they do not care to know.

Picture shows the mosques in northern Nigeria

Religion has blindfolded many Nigerian citizens. Many have really made mistake in the country because they have elected devils in the form of human to rule the country in one arm of government or the other. Many Nigerians are suffering today because they left competent candidates and went on to vote in some incompetent people due to religion.

Where Nigerians got it wrong because of Religion

In the 2015 presidential election, we witnessed the power of religion when Nigerians decided. The election was a battle between the Christians and Muslins. The campaign was between General Muhammadu Buhari of All Progressive Congress (APC) political party and Dr Goodluck Jonathan of People's Democratic Party (PDP). The Muslims were in Support of Buhari while the Christians supported Goodluck. At the end, Buhari won the position of the Presidency.

Posters of two major candidates that contested for 2015 presidential election in Nigeria; source: BBC News

On another note, the All Progressive Congress party shared the votes that supposed to go to the Christian candidate as well. They do this through the vice president of the APC party. The contesting vice president was Professor Yemi Osinbajo. He was a pastor in Redeemed Church of God, Lagos. As a result of this, some Christians also voted for him irrespective of his Muslim presidential candidate. This was how religion played a role in electing Buhari as the president of Nigeria.

But Nigerians do not understand that good leadership is not dependent on religion mainly. A good leadership mainly depend on sincerity and selfless service. Any president or politician that wants to lead people handed over to him must have these two major qualities and not by the kind of religion he or she belongs to. The country is messed up today because the citizens are sentimental during election. They elect because that fellow believe in their religious group.

APC and PDP as the two major political parties in Nigeria; source: Enough is Enough

According to Sarmad Hasan, the qualities of a good leader are honesty and integrity, confidence, the ability to inspire others, commitment and passion, good communicator, decision-making capabilities, accountability, delegation and empowerment, creativity and Innovation, and empathy. Any leader that does not have high percentage of these qualities is not worthy to be re-elected  into another political position irrespective of the religion. Nigeria is going down every day because many were elected base on religion. We are getting it wrong.

How Politicians Influence Religion in Nigeria

The political office holders are misusing religion as a tool to get to power while religious leaders are mishandling it to get personal gain from those who hold public office (Oluwaseun Olawale 2015). It is not new to hear that many Christian leaders campaign for politicians in the country. Many priests in Nigeria have received material and monetary gifts from politicians because they campaigned for them in their churches and ministries. Those who are guilty of this include priests, pastors and evangelists.

Though this is not what church suppose to be, yet many priests are abusing the church. The church is a place of worship and that standard is to be kept. Many have left the work of God they suppose to do and turn to servants to politicians. Some politicians even take pastors along to some important places they go.

Before some politicians go on with their campaigns, they usually visit churches to see the pastors. They do not go empty handed to the places of worship. After their visit, they give cash gifts to the pastors and priests. They do all these to buy the consents of the clergymen and women. This is known as politics in the church. Church politics is one of the major problems Nigerian churches are facing in the recent time.

Nigerian coat of arm; source: Naijaquest

Some of these politicians after they are elected still visit the churches any time they are having fund raising. They occupy front seats in the occasions and make their donations. In occasions like this, the so called men of God find it difficult to speak on the wrongs done by politicians in the country that need to be correct. They do not speak up again because they want the politicians to donate good amount of money.

Advice for Nigerians on Religions Impact on Nigerian Politics

It is time for us to have a rethink in Nigeria. Irrespective of the fact that religion plays important role in Nigerian politics, we have to still have to use our brains. Religious sentiment during election has put the country in the state beyond repair. Unemployment, poverty, corruption, and other problems in Nigeria can be traced back to the mistakes the citizens made when electing their leaders due to religion. Time has come to elect capable candidates and not electing incapable people due to religious influence. We need good leaders and not incompetent people as leaders.

Nigerian House of Reps office photo

References

• Oluwaseun Olawale Afolabi (2015), The role of religion in Nigerian politics and its sustainability for political development, Net Journal of Social Sciences, Volume 3, Issue 2, Sapele, Delta State, Nigeria
• Sarmad Hasan (2017), Top 10 Leadership Qualities That Make Good Leaders, published by TaskQue, Toronto, Canada
• Will Ross (2015), Nigeria elections: Mixing religion and politics, published by British Broadcasting Corporation, London, United Kingdom