Ethno Religious Crisis in Nigeria: Causes and Remedy.

ETHNO RELIGIOUS CRISIS IN NIGERIA CAUSES AND REMEDY. BY MUHAMMAD GAMBO ISGOGO HASSAN ADAMU MAKUKU UMAR HAMIDU ALIYU ABSTRACT Introduction Nigeria is no precariousness a populous commonwealth of every(prenominal)where 88 million (1991 dry land census) simply as at now Nigerias population is estimated to be above presbyopic hundred million tidy sum of diverse cultural groups and piece of musicy a(prenominal) holinesss. Its bulk ar different than distri preciselyed in the 36 states that do up the re semipublic. In addition to this, the ground is sunny wagh many an some other(prenominal) economic caboodleentialities which help in the movement of the unhomogeneous nations by performer of the regale of economic inter-dependence.Though abounds with human and innate(p) resources, the land has since independency witnessed a make sense of inter and intra heathen and spectral crisis which oerlay to be an impediment to its oer every last(predicate)(a) develop ment. The exercisings of differences amid and within heathen and sacred groups could be obtainn in a number of f coifors, such as ways of propagating the godlinesss, mistrust and suspicion among the pursuit of the mingled spectral and ethnic groups, selfishness ignorance and in perimeter amongst the two groups.References be make in the holy books, such as the Glorious Quran and the holy password on their t in all(prenominal)(prenominal)ings showing how if fully adhered to, the nation go away be in stop. In this repute, the prevailing crisis might non be un- connected with the deviation of the t individuallyings of these worships by their followers. In the make-up, causes of these crises argon discussed and few suggestions atomic number 18 provided which if correctly implemented will serve as remedies to two ethnic and apparitional crisis in the nation. Ethnic Crisis In Nigeria.In the row of Eleazu the commonwealth of Nigeria be many and wide-ran ging1. Actually, a nation with a population of over 120 million people now and ab disclose 391 disparate ethnic groups2 with divergent socio-political, economic, cultural and ghostly backgrounds could be termed a nation of many and varied peoples. With this heterogametic disposition. Nigeria has on that pointof, return out a melting pot where social conflicts and peculiarly of ethnic nature atomic number 18 bound to exit. Causes of ethnic crisis in Nigeria argon many comprising of both long and short term factors. at that place had been in the past for face, solid inter-ethnic rivalry to unsex knuckle ingests for both domestic use and trans-Atlantic slave job and secondly, there were struggles of expanding the territories of the divers(a) states, kingdoms and empires that made up what is straight off Nigeria. These wars were the predominant activities of the various ethnic groups which became a factor of venomous family amongst them in the past. This slip of malignity among the various ethnic groups was correspond to Ryder From the 18th century onwards when the slave trade supplied weapons that made these conflicts more(prenominal) destructive.Internally, a sagaciouslyening of divisions within societies is well attested3. These wars caused serious jeopardy so that many old towns were move in mountainous states or sens defensive walls were constructed to avoid the intrusion of enemies. It is cost noting that these earlier conflicts were sponsored by the European slavers. In this way unmatched could sound out, the seed for such conflicts was planted right in the design before colonial rule. Slave trade on its own was an inhuman act and thus a terrorist act.In the colonial period, the colonial system of dividing what is today Nigeria into deuce-ace administrative units had contri yeted greatly in shape the present day relationship of suspicion, dread and mistrust among the divergent ethnic groups in the country. The admin istrative units were-Lagos colony, Southern Protectorate and Union protectorate, in this system, the north was excluded from the central administration. This expulsion was to afterward cope a crap a serious implication on the relationship between the people of the north and those of the South, (East and West).The implication became more pronounced when in 1914, the ternion administrative units were amalgamated. This attain was marked by mutual suspicion and some prison terms open conflict between the diversed ethnic groups. One could presuppose at this juncture that, this suspicion and panic calm down shapes the relationship between the peoples of these various corners of the country. This is overly the genesis of the subsequent crisis of ethnic nature in Nigeria. Today, Nigerians feel unsettled in the regions other than their own.The sectional feeling further manifests itself clearly in the topicous competition in all aspects of the organisation between the people s of the North, West and East. Tensions between these peoples become more and more intensified with each trying to protect its sectional interest. On this note, Awolowo, cited in Ekeh, P. P. and Osaghae, E. E. eds blamed the British For dividing the North from the South so well and effectively that the two were divergently and almost irreconcilably oriented4With nationalism which was instituted to principally to avoid unrivalled ethnic group dictatorial others and besides protecting the interests of the minorities, the nation was at unrivaled magazine again split into regions, each with its autonomous power. In this political arrangement also, it was find that The colonial administrators have passed on to the Nigerian wards the prejudices which had enabled them think and act in the imprint that this informal federation was a marriage of convenience between incompatibles 5.With this clinical de water closetion in the minds of Nigerian peoples, it becomes very catchy for t hem to work on-keyly together without such tribal conflicts. each(prenominal) of the tribes of the country today works b arly for the interest of its people and not the nation, thus in these contrivance competitions of each trying to dominate the other, conflicts of ethnic nature always occur. Clear evidence to this was that the political parties of the scratch Republic were regionally organized Northern Peoples sexual congress (NPC), was for the North, bring by Group (AG) was for the West (Yoruba) while guinea pigCouncil of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) was for the East (Igbo). Equally the study parties of the second republic were only the rebirth of those of the starting signal republic, National Party of Nigeria (NPN) for cause replicated the NPC, United Party of Nigeria (UPN) was the AG body forth while the National Peoples Party (NPP) replicated the NCNC. Each of these worked tirelessly to protect the interest of its geopolitical z unrivalled, and in so doing, conflict s occur.A case to mention here was the coup and preclude coup of January and July 1966 which came close as a result of the heedless pride, greed, selfishness and shortcomings of the members of these troika regions. The affront inflicted by the Nigerian civil war did not heal properly as there argon calm down moves for drug withdrawal in the country. Minority issues in Nigeria be also seen as hotshot definitive phenomenon which causes ethnic conflicts in the country. These nonage tribes were once neglected in the socio-political and economic personal business of the country.Nigeria was seen and regarded as the home of only three tribes Hausa/Fulani, Igbo and Yoruba. tho later even Arthur Richard cited in Ekeh, P. P and Osaghae, E. E confirmed that It is only accident of British suzerainty which has made Nigeria superstar country or champion nation socially, economically and even politically, there are deep differences between the study ethnic groups. They do not speak the alike(p) actors line and they have highly divergent customs and ways of life and they interpret stages of culture. 6 From the 1950s till date, the truth of Nigerian problem started to unfold. umteen minority ethnic groups began to cavort in the sharp competitions in the entire aspects of disposal. This is make through the formation of their own political parties and associations in order to out do the activities of major ethnic groups whom they regard and see as threats to their economic and political aspirations. This suspicion and panic by the minority tribes over the major tribes expect a prominent feature in the Nigerian socio-political and economic activities and have in no small treasure helped in intensifying ethnic crisis in the country.The desire to harness and utilize the paragon habituated economic potentials distributed in all split of the country made the movements and unceasing settlement of different tribes in different regions of the country inevi table. Socio-political and economic relations that follow, crisis of leading result in serious clashes between many tribes. In 2002 for utilisation, there was a serious conflict between the Yoruba and Hausa over the leadership of a cattle marketplace in Bodija, Ibadan and in Jos, the conflict is lighten on between the Hausa and some tribes over who has the legal right of chieftaincy.Cases of this nature are numerous and too many to be menti unmatchedd here. One can also mute see the traces of the British administration in Nigeria on the issue of sectionalism. It is worth mentioning that afterward forty four (44) years of independence and despite several calls for national unity, associations of stringently tribal interest are realized in the country. In the West, there is the Ooduwa Peoples Congress (OPC) for purely Yoruba people, in the East, there is the Ohaneze (Ndi Igbo) purely for Igbo people, while in the North, there is Arewa advisory Forum for the northern people s.It should be noted that all these associations have been established to directly and openly protect the interests of their honourive peoples. Where their interests clash, it results to conflicts. Many ethnic crises in Nigeria are as a result of the activities of these associations. It is very put off to add that these tribal associations and other purely tribally motivated movements are directly back up and sponsored by top serving and retired government personalities.These supports only help in fuel crisis of ethnic nature in the country. scald still, is that security and law follow throughment agents always take sides when performing any national identification of sleep keeping. These agents openly support their people even if they are the offenders. This issue is no doubt causing further ethnic crisis and even escalating the outlasting unrivaled(a)s. One cannot also delink this problem of ethnic crisis with the activities of the area boys who fall out suddenly as t he result of the ontogenesis unemployment in the country.These groups of unemployed, misguided, disgruntled and unpatriotic teenagers unnecessarily cause commotions and misunderstanding under the pretext of tribal issues to enable them loot and steal private and public bes. Area boyism is thusly a force to reckon with in causing tribal conflicts in the country. further it is worth mentioning here that some of the activities of these area boys are mostly engineered and sponsored by the selfish, devouring(a) and unpatriotic politicians who by all means and at all cost grisly to win election or cause unnecessary commotions.Under the pretext of tribalism, they because incite such crises in the country. defame and exaggerated information by the press and the media houses sometimes form the background for tribal conflicts in the country. Such exaggerated news will only spark up some ethnic groups to avenge on some innocent victims. Almizan of 16th Zulkida 1420 for example report ed that over 2000 Hausa people were killed by the Igbo in the East to avenge the killings of Igbo in Kaduna7. The Igbo took this action because the nation was err unrivaledously assured of the Kaduna crisis by the Today crudespaper of 21/2/2000. ollowing this, other major towns in the country started brewing with tension. No one can quantify the extent of damages caused by these ethnic crises in Nigeria. Hundreds of thousands of lives were helpless leaving behind them so many orphans and widows, many were m headed and wounded, private and public property worth millions of naira were damaged. Also the tribes of Nigeria are left in a spartan state of perpetual psychological hazard and fear curiously those settling in a region other than their own.In this way, the spirit of national cohesion which is the fundamental principle of peaceableness and stability still remain a dream, Nigerians therefore remain in either cold war or open war with one another. sacred Crisis In Nige ria (Causes) The causes of religious crisis in Nigeria have the appearance _or_ semblance to have been an event that occurs as a surprise to all concerned citizens of the nation. The crisis are mostly centered on religion though with some hidden motives. religion which is often used as sell up is considered as one of the major causes of the crisis in Nigeria.Definition of Religion. Religion fit in to the Oxford Dictionary is defined as one of the systems of faith that are establish on the belief in the existence of a particular god or gods Jewish religion, Christian Religion, Muslim religion and other world religions8. It is also defined as, a particular interest or regularise that is very important in ones life 9. Christianity is the belief in Christ, the man that Christians believe is the son of God and on those teachings the Christian religion is based.The ingathering book 1998 states the Christian faith is based on the belief in one God summarized in what is popularly co gnize as Nicene Creed thus reads We believe in one God, the father, the Almighty, manufacturer of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. We believe in one master key, Jesus Christ, God from God, motiveless from light, lawful God from true God, ca-ca not made, of one being with the father, through him all things were made. For us men and for our repurchase he came down from heaven by the power of the holy Spirit he became incarnate of the Virgin Mary and was made man. 0 Islam as a religion is an Arabic word and connotes submission, conceding and obedience to the laws of Allah. Islam is to enter into peace and Moslem is one who makes his peace wit Allah and mans peace wit Allah implies go off submission to his will and peace wit man is not only to bring to an end from evil, injury to another man but also o do cracking to him. Christianity and Islam as religions of peace preach peace and co existence among their adherents. The word of honor says in the Book of illusionist Isaiah 96 Proclaimed Jesus Christ as the prince of peace12.It will be sozzled to see the followers of this prince of peace breaching the peace that was announced. Based on Moslem peace teaching, Al-Ezzati observed, that The task of guiding the misled to virtuous style and persuading them to stop doing wrong (Al-amir bil-al-ma-rouf wa-al-nahy anil-munkar) is laid on every Muslim and this is why every Muslim is supposed to preach responsibility and decency13 . Religious crisis in Nigeria seems to be as a result of digression from the teachings of both religions.Prophet Isa (Jesus) (AS) displayed a good position and requested all his followers to emulate. In the New Testament, the apostle Paul in his rebuke to the Romans in chapter 129, 10 & 18 charged them Let love be without dissimulation, abhor that which is evil, cleave to that which is good. Be openhearted affectionate one to another with amicable love in honour preferring one another. If it is viable, as mor e than as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men14. In Galatians 522 peaceful co-existence is depict as one of the Christian virtues.The teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) have shown in theory and practice too, the right of neighbours both Muslims and non-Muslims, in a hadith which states Whosoever happens to be such that his (or her) neighbours do not feel secured of being discomfit from his evils, will not be admitted into paradise15. other Hadith states By Allah he has not acquired Iman (faith) and by Allah he has not acquired Iman. So it was state who is that person O ye messenger of Allah He said, that one whose neighbours do not feel safe from the evil in him or (her). Bukhari narrated 16.The above traditions teach harmonious relationship that is to be encouraged by both followers of the two faiths especially the Muslims. To buttress further from the Christian side, the Holy Bible, in nib 311 says Let him eschew evil, and do good, let him seek peace and ensue it. For the eye of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers. But the face of the Lord is against them that do evil 17. If such teachings are emulated by both Muslims and non-Muslims of the world, and Nigeria in particular, there will be no religious crisis.Most if not all of the crisis occurred out of ignorance. The present society tends to neglect all the above teachings and behave recklessly as explained above. Umar Ibn Khattab the second khalifah said when send troops to the battle field. Destroy not fruit trees, nor fertile fields in your path, be bonny and spare the feelings of the vanquished, respect all religious persons who live in hermitage or convents, and spare their edifice18. Ezzati further explains how caliph Umar protected the people of the Book.The killings, destructions being do in the process of fighting each other is not religious. In one of Jesus last sermons to his disciples in washstand 1427, He said tranquillity I leave with you, my peace I give unto you19. As mentioned above, the religious crisis in Nigeria are mostly manifested out of none adherence to the teachings of all the religions, since all the Holy books like the Quran and the Bible teaches peaceful co-existence of the people. The Quran openly states in chapter 2 verse xcl Fight for the sake of those that fight against you, but do not attack them first.Allah does not love aggressors20. It is therefore not true to say that the Muslim leaders or Christians of Nigeria are ignorant of such verses and the relationship that existed at the early state, which is supposed to be emulated by the present society. Quran 2256 states There should be no compulsion in religion21. Another verse states 1096 Unto you your religion and unto me my religion22. The above verses shows that many religions could co-exist in unity without conflict since followers of every religion are enjoined to stick to their religions.For example, in the time of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW ), some religions existed side by side with Islam, and the prophet himself accorded much respect to the followers of these religions. The Quran is full of teachings in which no doubt about it, a counselor-at-law to those who are pious, who fear Allah and very much abstain from all kinds of sins and evil industrial plant which Allah has forbidden, and performance of good deeds which He has ordained. Several crises occurred in many parts of Nigeria from the initial stage as tribal and later turned to religious crisis.But the question is, were all these really religious crisis, if they were, were the forerunners of these crises ignorant of such teachings of the glorious Quran and The Bible? One may likely say that such crisis were not religious as such, since the holy prophet states in one of his traditions that the blood of a brother Muslim is only lawful in three ways 1. When a Muslim kills a Muslim brother, he will be killed. 2. When he commits apostasy (Ridda) and warned to repe nt, if he refused, he will be killed. 3. When a unify man or married cleaning lady commits adultery he or she will be killed.Again the messenger of Allah (P. B. U. H) said A thief will not commit theft at the time he/she commits it while he is still a Mumin and drunkard will no drink at the time he/she drinks while he/she is still a mumin, and the armed robber will not commit robbery of the precious thing, with people watching him at the time he commits robbery while he is still a mumin23. The above Hadith illustrated the situation in Nigeria about those who call themselves religious and yet engage in such irreligious crisis. As pointed out above, the spry causes of which can therefore be attributed to A.Pretensious ignorance of followers of the dominant religions in their religious tenets twin with lack of proper adherence to the teachings of their religions. B. out-of-pocket to Lack of Allahs consciousness ethno religious crisis arising from economic consideration from the le aders of Nigeria, many of the crisis are economically ignited, e. g. with all Nigerias oil wealth, what has been done to alleviate the sufferings of the mass masses. In such a case, uprisings occur in the name of religious crisis where the scotch Nigerians will take laws into their hands in the name of protecting the interest of their various religions.Though Muslims cite example of a hadith which says If one sees an abomination he should correct it with his hand and if that is not possible, he should correct it with his tongue and if that is not possible he should hate it in his heart, the later being the weakest degree of faith24. The above Hadith shows the level of subject field to be embarked upon by any good Muslim, not the correction through destruction as it is done in Nigeria. This is the correction that is done, not with the deviation of lives or destruction of public property C.Although Nigeria is a secular state, yet some top government officials take aslope decision s in favour of their religions, especially on employment and other government af fair(a)s. This action always provokes the followers of other religions which so result to crisis in the name of religion. An example is that of complains by Christians about the Arabic inscriptions in the Nigerian currency, while on the other hand the Muslims too complain about Friday not being work-free day just like their Christiancounterparts enjoy Sundays as work free day.D. Misunderstanding of the pattern of shariah Some Muslims and non Muslims in the country are ignorant of the entire thought of shariah and therefore, see it as an official document of oppression and abuse of human rights. With this erroneous conception of shariah, some Muslims and non Muslims oppose its effectuation openly and in so doing conflicts of religious nature occur. To this end, remedy to these problems must be sought in order to create a peaceful social milieu for the overall development of our country, Nigeria.Su ggestions As Remedies For Ethno-Religious Crisis In Nigeria. We have seen that the socio-political history of Nigeria has been bedeviled with series of conflicts especially of ethnic and religious nature. These conflicts are also varied, sometimes within a given religion or between religions, so also is the case with ethnic crisis. These crisis are seriously hindering the nation towards achieving one of its desired objectives of unity and stability which is the basic pre-requisite for any meaningful development.Below are a number of suggestions which would serve as remedies to the frequent ethnic and religious crisis in the country. 1. The method of imparting to the Nigerian the great unwashed the spirit of patriotism should be revisited. Nigerians should be fully acquainted with the ethics of patriotism. They should be made to take the nation first before any sectional interest. 2. chase of both religions should value and adhere strictly to the teachings of their faiths since all religions are peace-loving, the spirit of tolerance ad cooperation will be real so that Nigerians can work with one another peacefully. . The basic aim of the Federal Character Commission should be observed with all sense of seriousness. The aim is to give every citizen of Nigeria a sense of belonging to the nation notwithstanding the diversities of ethnic origin, culture, language or religion which may exist and which it is their desireto nourish, harness to the enrichment of the federal Republic of Nigeria. If this aim is fully implemented, all Nigerians irrespective of language, religions or sex will have a sense of belonging and fuller lodge in all government affairs without discrimination.In this way the feeling of one tribe or religion dominating the other will be discarded. 4. shaping of associations of purely tribal nature should be out rightly discouraged. 5. Inter-faiths Mediation Centers should be developed at all levels of government. 6. right enforcement and securi ty agents should be re-oriented on the vastness of being neutral when putting down crisis of any nature in the country. 7. Standards should be set for treatment on all religions. In this way rampant preaching by the scholars of various religions could be controlled. 8.The authoritative bodies of various religions in the country should enforce the law guiding the adherence of their belief system. Muslims for example should be made to dedicate Shariah. In the same vein applications programme of ecclesial law should be encourage . In this way conflicts within and between religions would be reduced. 9. Media houses and the press should always be fair in their reports, especially when it involves crisis of ethnic and religious nature. 10. As some of the crisis are caused advisedly by area boys and certain movements, this is actually reflecting the economic situation of the country.Effort should be done to reduce the activities of area boyism through employment and equitable distribu tion of the nations wealth. 11. There should be native war against the debilitating problems of ignorance, poverty and disease, therefore promoting the well being of the individuals that make up the nation. Notes And References 1. Eleazu, U. History and Geography of Nigeria in Eleazu U. Ed. Nigeria The first 25 years, Lagos Heinemann. 1985 -p3 2. Abdul Basir, A. A. & Bala, U. K, In search of knife Franca/National Language Towards Sustainable commonwealth for Nation Building.A seminar paper presented at the 1st national company organized by School of liberal arts & Social Sciences, F. C. E. Kontagora. From 26th 30th April. 2004, p- 1 3. Ryder, A. F. C. The Trans-Atlantic slave Trade in Obaro, I. Ed. founding of Nigerian History, Ibadan, Heinemann. 1980. p150 4. Ekeh, P. P. and Osaghae, E. E. (eds) Federal Character and Federalism in Nigeria, Ibadan, Heinemann. 1989 p 337 5. Ibid, p337 6. Ibid, p340 7. Al-mizan of 16th Zulkida, 1420 Similarly see all the publications of Almizan and other Kaduna based Newspapers published within the period of the Kaduna crisis, I. . from 20th February, 2000. 8. Hornby, A. S. Oxford advance(a) Learners Dictionary of Current English, 6th Ed. New York. 2000. p 900 9. Ibid pp. 900 10. The Holy Bible genuine fag James Version, U. S. A. World Publishing. Ioma locomote Ioma 50126 p. 165 11. Edmund, P. Christianity in Northern Nigeria. second Ed. Zaria, Gaskiya Corporation. 1976, p131. 12. Ibid,p. 131. 13. Ezzati, A. An introduction to the History of the spread of Islam, Lagos, Islamic Publication Bureau. 1979. p 4. 14. Ibid, p 116 15.Idris, I. G. The film of a Muslim (Bugyatul-Muslimina) English translation, Kauran Wali Islamic Publishers, Kaduna. 1979. p 49. 16. Ibid pp 49 17. Ibid in Peter 311 18. Ezzati, A. 1979 p. 5. 19. Authorized King James Version, John 1427 pp. 78 20. King Fahd Complex The noble Quran, English Translation of the meanings and commentary. (1419 A. H). 2xcl 21 Ibid, 2256 22Ibid, 109 6 23. Abdur Rahman, I. Doi. sharia The Islamic Law, Ta Ha Publications, London, 1984 p 355/6 24Idris, I. G. 1979. p. 50.