University Don Says Nigerian Religious Leaders Are Hypocrites

The Director, Institute for Development Research, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Prof. Pindah Paul Izah, believes that should the country break up as being touted in some quarters, it is not because of religion as it has been with Nigerians for a very long time. Izah, at a round table discussion on politics and religion in Nigeria held in Jos by Carefronting Nigeria (CFN) in collaboration with Freedom House, however, said that religion has become the major source of differentiation as political parties are seen through religious prism. The guest lecturer admitted that religion has become a potent political force used by politicians when they are in a fight with candidates of opposite faith. He cited the 2011 presidential election where 12 of the far Northern states, which are predominantly Muslims, voted for General Muhammadu Buhari while the predominantly Christian South-South and South-East massively voted for President Goodluck Jonathan, adding that the North Central and South West had mixed results because of their mixed religious faith. The exception to this religious dichotomy, according to him, are Adamawa and Taraba states that are in the Northeast but have Christian majority population. “Today, it is taken for granted that the President of this country cannot come from the same religious background as his vice-president. It is today alleged that the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has become an integral part of the Jonathan administration. Why this superficial religious intensity? I think it has its roots in bad government. The inability of successive regimes to provide equity in governance has led to the reliance on the religious institutions for guide and consolation,” Izah stressed. The lecturer gave a practical example when he said that, today if there is a cabinet reshuffle, people will quickly ask, “How many Muslims are there? How many Christian are there? How many Muslims or Christians occupy juicy ministries? This did not happen in the past. When there is no dispute among the elite class, they don’t quarrel. But when there is something to be contested among groups, they use faith to curry favour. The antagonism between the two dominant religions is heightened by political elite.” Izah contended that unless Nigerians learn to play down the issues of religion, politicians would continue to make them pawns in their hands, arguing that if Nigerians have responsible, transparent, accountable leaders, all religious fanaticism will water down. He is of the view that when there is good governance, nobody cares where his leader comes from or which religion he belongs. “With the return to democracy in 1999, beginning with Zamfara,” he asserted, “northern governors, one after another, introduced Sharia legal system. This led to widespread protest from Christian groups, but President Obasanjo was smart enough to read the political undertone and urged Nigerians to ignore it, calling it ‘political Sharia.’ “True enough, the resistance has died down and life in most of the states are back to status quo. So, there is alcohol consumption and prostitution as well as embezzlement of government resources. But it is a potent political force used by politicians when in a fight with a candidate of the opposite faith,” he pointed out. Culled from Guardian Newspaper,Nigeria