RELIGION AND POLITICS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Religion is one of the most vexatious and contentious issues across the globe. Intrinsic in religion is the characteristic of power. This power characteristic positions it inextricably from politics in Nigeria, as in other countries. Across the world different religions and even different sects of the same religions are engaged in never-ending jostle for power and prominence. This paper is an attempt to locate the place of religion in the politics in Nigeria. In terms of methodology it relied on analysis of secondary data while using the social identity theory as a preferred theoretical framework. The paper found that inherent in all human relations is competition. Therefore, the paper recommends that for any religion to remain relevant or at least be allowed to exist, the adherents must be politically active.