Religious Discontent in Contemporary Nigeria: The What, Why and Way Out

Abstract

Present-day happenings in Nigeria are reminiscent of the fact that Nigeria, more than any time in its history is at a cross-road political disintegration or fragmentation. This is so from numerous perspectives. The present study focuses on the unending unrest arising from a strong root of lopsided religious configuration discontent. As conceived by this study, religious discontent in Nigeria has gone beyond mere imperceptible hate and disagreements between the two dominant religions in the nation, to include the outbursts of noticeable uprisings, insurrections, and terrorism. This study examines the origin of religious discontent in Nigeria from historical angle, as an offshoot of the 1914 artificial British creation. The study relied upon primary data sourced for from archival documents deposited in the National Archives, Ibadan. And secondary data which include articles published in journals and book chapters. Data gathered are analysed through the use of historical methods where claims earlier made by scholars are re-examined in the light of new evidence to confirm their veracity. The study found that improper management of ethno-religious crises in Nigeria since independence amongst other factors has produced the more recent ones which are more volatile than earlier ones. Consequently, the nation remains in a precarious condition with options of either preserving her nationhood or packing it up.