RELIGIOUS CONFLICTS IN NIGERIA: CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Background of Study

Conflict threat is an inevitable aspect of human interaction, an unavoidable concomitant of choices and decision. The challenge, then, is not to count the frustration of seeking to remove inevitability but rather of trying to keep conflicts in bounds. The Christian tradition has made significant contributions to world peace at a number of different levels (Albert, 2011). Among these are public statements by Church leaders, programs of action at local and international levels, organizations dedicated to bringing about peace, courses of study, commemorative days etc. In recent decades, Church leaders have frequently made statements in support of peace. In some cases these statements have been specific appeals for peace in particular circumstances, however, on other occasions they have also published more comprehensive statements on the need for peace and the means of achieving it. The teaching of Christianity which is guided by the dictates of the bible (word of God) has constantly encouraged the members to ensure peace and harmony in the society.

There is a popular saying “united we stand, divided we fall” which supports the assertion that “unity is strength and division is punishment”. These statements also depict the life of the people living in a divided society like Nigeria, because different scholars have described Nigeria as a divided society. Horowitz (1985) in Okpanachi (2009) established that one of the most challenging aspects of divided societies is that they face particular obstacle in maintaining peace. He also added that “from a similar point of view, a plural society is a society divided by what Harry Eckstein (1966) calls “segmental cleavages.” He says: “This exists where political divisions follow very closely, and especially concern lines of objective social differentiation, especially those particularly salient in a society.” Segmental cleavages may have religious, linguistic, regional, cultural, racial, or ethnic dimensions. In essence, a divided (that is, plural) society is defined by the coexistence of incompatible institutional systems and, therefore, force must be used to maintain order. Okpanachi’s view was buttressed by Osaghae and Suberu (2005) who described Nigeria as one of the most deeply divided states in Africa because of its complex web of politically salient identities and history of chronic and seemingly intractable conflicts and instability.

Christianity which is one of the predominant religions in the world today teaches peace and encourages all adherents to the faiths to pursue peace and live peacefully with one another. The above statement now seems to be questionable with the rise of intra, inter and ethno-religious conflicts in the world. While most Arab and some European countries are faced with intra-religious conflicts, an African country like Nigeria is faced with both intra and inter-religious conflicts. Nigeria, which is popularly known as Africa’s most populous black nation with a population of now about 170 million people, with more than 250 ethnic groups has Christianity and Islam as its predominant religions, though there is still in existence the African Traditional Religion (ATR). The word Peace in Christianity is translated from the Hebrew word ‘Shalom’, which is a key word in the Bible and it’s at the center of how God wants us to live on earth. One of the key things Jesus came to give humanity is Peace and expects us to live in peace as cited in the scriptural verses above. Peace was not only what Jesus taught but He also lived it, this in most cases is what scholars call pacifism, as Jesus never taught violence, even at his arrest by the Pharisees and one of his disciples struck the ears of the priest, Jesus rebuked the disciple and said that “those who live by the sword shall die by the sword” (Mathew 26:52, NKJV). In another place Jesus taught the people not to retaliate any evil done to them as it used to be, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, if one should strike you on the right cheek, turn the left cheek (Mathew 5:38-39, NKJV) but now to always forgive those that offend them and he charged them to forgive their neighbors even seventy times seven (Matthew 18:22, KJV). With all these scriptural teachings of the church, Christians are meant to foster peace and harmony in the society.

Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Challenges and Solutions of Religious Conflicts in Nigeria.

1.2 Statement of Problems

The church has always taught the members on the act of non-retaliation as taught by Jesus who helps to absorb violence instead of escalating it, hence every cycle of violence provoking revenge, which in turn provokes more violence is broken by the simple act of tolerating the violence and avoiding retaliation. On the contrary, there has been an increased case of disruption to peace and harmony in the world today despite the church teachings of peace as stipulated by Jesus Christ. However, the researcher is examining the role of church in ensuring peace and harmony in the society.

1.3 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of this study is to scrutinize the Challenges and Solutions of Religious Conflicts in Nigeria. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To examine the role of church in reducing religious conflicts in the society.
2. To examine the dictates of the church as regards sustainable peace and harmony.
3. To identify the factors disrupting sustainable peace and harmony of the society.
4. To proffer solutions to the issues of religious conflicts in Nigeria.

1.4 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• How can the Church help provide sustainable peace in Nigeria in this 21st century?
• To what extent has the Church been relevant in community development of her host communities?
• Has the Church played any significant role in sustaining peace in Nigeria?
• What are the factors disrupting sustainable peace and harmony of the society?
• What is the role of church in ensuring sustainable peace and harmony in the society?
• What are the dictates of the church as regards sustainable peace and harmony?

1.5 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

Hypothesis One

• H0: The church is not encouraging religious, political and ethno-religious crisis in Nigeria.
• H1: The church is encouraging religious, political and ethno-religious crisis in Nigeria.

Hypothesis Two

• H0: The Church has not played a significant role in sustaining peace in Nigeria.
• H2: The Church has played a significant role in sustaining peace in Nigeria.

1.6 Significance of Study

The findings of this study will be useful for the government, church leaders and the general public on the role of the church in ensuring sustainable peace and harmony in the society. This research will also serve as a resource base to other scholars and researchers interested in carrying out further research in this field subsequently, if applied will go to an extent to provide new explanation to the topic. It will provide valuable insights into existing relationship between the government and the church in providing sustainable peace in our rural communities. It will bring to the fore the prominent role the Church has been playing in sustaining peace since she made her advent and the situation today. It could also motivate the various stakeholders in community development to partner well with the Church in bringing sustainable peace to the grassroots. It will add to existing knowledge and equally serve as a benchmark for further studies. It will serve as a model to other NGOs in their contributions to sustainable peace. It could also bring to the knowledge of other religions that religion is not just “otherworldly,” that they work for the material and psychological wellbeing of men and women when they are being well practiced.

1.7 Scope of Study

This study will cover the position of the church and Christianity in general as regards the issue of societal peace and harmony.

1.8 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
3. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
4. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

1.9 Organization of the Study

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows:

• Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), statement of problem, objectives of the study, research question, significance or the study, research methodology, definition of terms and historical background of the study.
• Chapter two highlights the theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature.
• Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study.
• Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.
• Chapter five gives summary, conclusion and recommendations made of the study.