7 - Behind the Curtains of State Power: Religious Groups and the Struggle for Ascendancy in Nigerian Public Institutions - A Critical Appraisal
Corresponding Author(s) : Nkolika E. Obianyo
Africa Development,
Vol. 35 No. 4 (2010): Africa Development
Abstract
In secular states, religion is expected to occupy a backseat in public life; but in states like Nigeria, this is not so as religion, after ethnicity, has turned out to become a major determinant of political behaviour. It serves as both a unifying and a divisive factor. It unifies Nigerians who share the same belief across ethnic lines and, at the same time, puts them in contest with others who hold different beliefs. Hence, there are several contestations along religious lines. The proliferation of these divides has also given rise to the proliferation of these contestations. Traditionally, this contest has been between the Moslem and Christian groups; but contrary to popular opinion, within the two major religious groups there are several other contestations. Today, there is the contest between Pentecostal and non- Pentecostal Christians, Roman Catholics and non-Roman Catholic Christians (especially the Anglican sect). These contests focus on the relative strength of each group or sect in the corridors of state power. Against this backdrop, this article examines the origin and dynamics of this trend with respect to the Christian religious group in Nigeria. It argues that religion, like ethnicity, serves as instrument for the acquisition of state power, public positions and resources, and consequently as an instrument of exclusion and inclusion in the quest for ascendancy among contestants for state power and public positions. The article argues that this trend cannot be divorced from the ‘rentier’ and ‘allocative’ character of the post-colonial state of Nigeria in which occupants of state power not only use the state to improve their material well-being but also that of their primordial groups from which they draw support when the competition gets stiff. The ar ticle examines the implications of this trend for development and efficiency of public institutions in Nigeria.
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- Ake, C., 1981, Political Economy of Africa, Nigeria: Longman.
- Ake, C.,1996, Is Africa Democratizing? CASS Monograph No.5, Nigeria, Centre for Advanced Social Science.
- Ake, C., 2001, Democracy and Development in Africa, Ibadan: Spectrum Books. Amucheazi, E., 1986, Church and Politics in Eastern Nigeria: 1945-1966, Nigeria: Macmillan.
- Anders, G., 2002, ‘Like Chameleons - Civil Servants and Corruption in Malawi’, Discussion Paper, prepared for the Conference on ‘The Governance of Daily Life in Africa: Public and Collective Services and their Users’, University of Leiden, 22-25.May.
- Chabal, P. and Daloz, J., 1999, Africa Works: Disorder as Political Instrument, Oxford; The International African Institute & James Currey.
- Coleman J.S., 1986, Nigeria, Background to Nationalism, Benin City: Brouburg & Wistrom.
- Dawodu, S.T., 2002, ‘Enugu Debacle: Politics in the Name of God - Catholicism and Theocracy’ (http://www.nigerianworld.com/letetters/2002/mar/192.html), 15 September 2002.
- Ekeh, P., 1978, ‘Colonialism and the development of Citizenship in Africa: A Study in Ideologies of Legitimation’ in O, Otite, ed. Themes in African Social and Political Thought, Enugu: Fourth Dimensions
- Ibeanu, O., 2006, ‘The Church and Democratic Governance in Nigeria: An Explanatory Analysis’, Paper presented at the Valedictory Conference in honour of Professor Elo Amucheazi at the University of Nigeria, Enugu, 7 September 2008.
- Ibrahim, J., 2003, ‘The Transformation of Ethno- Regional Identities in Nigeria’, in Jega, A. ed., Identity Formation and Identity Politics Under Structural Adjustment in Nigeria, Kano/Uppsala: The Centre for Research and Documentation and Nordiska Africainstitutet.
- Jega, A., 2003, ‘General Introduction.Identity Transformation and the Politics of Identity Transformation under Crisis and Adjustment’, in A. Jega, ed., Identity Formation and Identity Politics Under Structural Adjustment In Nigeria, Kano/Uppsala, Centre for Research and Documentation and Nordiska Africainstitutet..
- Jega, A., 2003, ‘The State and Identity Transformation under Structural Adjustment in Nigeria’, in A. Jega, ed., Identity Formation and Identity Politics Under Structural Adjustment in Nigeria, Kano/Uppsala: Centre for Research and Documentation.and Nordiska Africainstitutet.
- Joseph, R., 1991, Democracy and Prebendal Politics in Nigeria:The Rise and Fall of the Second Republic, Ibadan: Spectrum Books.
- Korieh, J., 2005, ‘Islam and Politics in Nigeria: Historical Perspectives’, in J. Korieh and G. Nwokeji, ed., Religion, History and Politics in Nigeria:Essays in Honour of Ogbuu Kalu, University Press of America.
- Kukah, M.H., 2003, Religion, Politics and Power in Northern Nigeri, Ibadan: Spectrum Books.
- List of Vice Presidents of Nigeria (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki vice_president_of_Nigeria) 15 September 2008.
- Mu’azzam, I.& Ibrahim, J., 2003, ‘Religious Identity in the Context of Structural Adjustment in Nigeria’, in A. Jega, ed., Identity Formation and Identity Politics Under Structural Adjustment in Nigeria. Kano /Uppsala: Centre for Research and Documentation and Nordiska Africainstitutet.
- Nabudere, D.W., 2000, ‘Globalization, the African Post-Colonial State, Post Traditionalism, and the New World Order’, in D.W.Nabudere, ed., Globalization and The Post- Colonial African State, Harare: Zimbabwe AAPS Books.
- Nnoli, O., 1981, ‘A Short History of Nigerian Development’, in O.Nnoli ed., Path to Nigerian Development, Dakar:.CODESRIA.
- Nnoli, O., 1989, Ethnic Politics in Africa, Nigeria, African Association of Political Science.
- Obianyo, N.E., 2001, ‘The Political Economy of Sectionalismè in Anambra State’, in Nnamdi Azikiwe Journal of Political Science, Vol. 2, No.1.
- Obianyo, N.E., 2008, ‘Citizenship and Ethnic Militia Politics in Nigeria: Marginalization or Identity Question? –The Case of MASSOB’, Paper presented at the 4th Global Conference on Pluralism Inclusion and Citizenship, Salzburg, 31 October,- 4 November 2008.
- Offiong, D.A., 2001, Globalization and Post Neo Dependency in Africa, Enugu; Fourth Dimensions.
- Osaghae, E., 2003, ‘Colonialism and Civil Society in Africa:The perspective of Eke’s Two Publics’, Paper presented at the symposium on Canonical Works and Continuing Innovation in African Arts and Humanities, Accra, Ghana. 17-19 September Available Online (http:/www.codesria.org/links/conferences/ accra/osaghae.pdf). 22 September 2008.
- Unizik Comet, 2003, ‘Current Appointment in Unizik’ , Awka Mass Communication Department.
- Zeleza, P.T. (n.d), ‘Imaging and Inventing the Post Colonial State in Africa’, in Contours (http://www.press.uillinois.edu/journals/contours/1.1/zeleza.html). 11 November 2006.
References
Ake, C., 1981, Political Economy of Africa, Nigeria: Longman.
Ake, C.,1996, Is Africa Democratizing? CASS Monograph No.5, Nigeria, Centre for Advanced Social Science.
Ake, C., 2001, Democracy and Development in Africa, Ibadan: Spectrum Books. Amucheazi, E., 1986, Church and Politics in Eastern Nigeria: 1945-1966, Nigeria: Macmillan.
Anders, G., 2002, ‘Like Chameleons - Civil Servants and Corruption in Malawi’, Discussion Paper, prepared for the Conference on ‘The Governance of Daily Life in Africa: Public and Collective Services and their Users’, University of Leiden, 22-25.May.
Chabal, P. and Daloz, J., 1999, Africa Works: Disorder as Political Instrument, Oxford; The International African Institute & James Currey.
Coleman J.S., 1986, Nigeria, Background to Nationalism, Benin City: Brouburg & Wistrom.
Dawodu, S.T., 2002, ‘Enugu Debacle: Politics in the Name of God - Catholicism and Theocracy’ (http://www.nigerianworld.com/letetters/2002/mar/192.html), 15 September 2002.
Ekeh, P., 1978, ‘Colonialism and the development of Citizenship in Africa: A Study in Ideologies of Legitimation’ in O, Otite, ed. Themes in African Social and Political Thought, Enugu: Fourth Dimensions
Ibeanu, O., 2006, ‘The Church and Democratic Governance in Nigeria: An Explanatory Analysis’, Paper presented at the Valedictory Conference in honour of Professor Elo Amucheazi at the University of Nigeria, Enugu, 7 September 2008.
Ibrahim, J., 2003, ‘The Transformation of Ethno- Regional Identities in Nigeria’, in Jega, A. ed., Identity Formation and Identity Politics Under Structural Adjustment in Nigeria, Kano/Uppsala: The Centre for Research and Documentation and Nordiska Africainstitutet.
Jega, A., 2003, ‘General Introduction.Identity Transformation and the Politics of Identity Transformation under Crisis and Adjustment’, in A. Jega, ed., Identity Formation and Identity Politics Under Structural Adjustment In Nigeria, Kano/Uppsala, Centre for Research and Documentation and Nordiska Africainstitutet..
Jega, A., 2003, ‘The State and Identity Transformation under Structural Adjustment in Nigeria’, in A. Jega, ed., Identity Formation and Identity Politics Under Structural Adjustment in Nigeria, Kano/Uppsala: Centre for Research and Documentation.and Nordiska Africainstitutet.
Joseph, R., 1991, Democracy and Prebendal Politics in Nigeria:The Rise and Fall of the Second Republic, Ibadan: Spectrum Books.
Korieh, J., 2005, ‘Islam and Politics in Nigeria: Historical Perspectives’, in J. Korieh and G. Nwokeji, ed., Religion, History and Politics in Nigeria:Essays in Honour of Ogbuu Kalu, University Press of America.
Kukah, M.H., 2003, Religion, Politics and Power in Northern Nigeri, Ibadan: Spectrum Books.
List of Vice Presidents of Nigeria (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki vice_president_of_Nigeria) 15 September 2008.
Mu’azzam, I.& Ibrahim, J., 2003, ‘Religious Identity in the Context of Structural Adjustment in Nigeria’, in A. Jega, ed., Identity Formation and Identity Politics Under Structural Adjustment in Nigeria. Kano /Uppsala: Centre for Research and Documentation and Nordiska Africainstitutet.
Nabudere, D.W., 2000, ‘Globalization, the African Post-Colonial State, Post Traditionalism, and the New World Order’, in D.W.Nabudere, ed., Globalization and The Post- Colonial African State, Harare: Zimbabwe AAPS Books.
Nnoli, O., 1981, ‘A Short History of Nigerian Development’, in O.Nnoli ed., Path to Nigerian Development, Dakar:.CODESRIA.
Nnoli, O., 1989, Ethnic Politics in Africa, Nigeria, African Association of Political Science.
Obianyo, N.E., 2001, ‘The Political Economy of Sectionalismè in Anambra State’, in Nnamdi Azikiwe Journal of Political Science, Vol. 2, No.1.
Obianyo, N.E., 2008, ‘Citizenship and Ethnic Militia Politics in Nigeria: Marginalization or Identity Question? –The Case of MASSOB’, Paper presented at the 4th Global Conference on Pluralism Inclusion and Citizenship, Salzburg, 31 October,- 4 November 2008.
Offiong, D.A., 2001, Globalization and Post Neo Dependency in Africa, Enugu; Fourth Dimensions.
Osaghae, E., 2003, ‘Colonialism and Civil Society in Africa:The perspective of Eke’s Two Publics’, Paper presented at the symposium on Canonical Works and Continuing Innovation in African Arts and Humanities, Accra, Ghana. 17-19 September Available Online (http:/www.codesria.org/links/conferences/ accra/osaghae.pdf). 22 September 2008.
Unizik Comet, 2003, ‘Current Appointment in Unizik’ , Awka Mass Communication Department.
Zeleza, P.T. (n.d), ‘Imaging and Inventing the Post Colonial State in Africa’, in Contours (http://www.press.uillinois.edu/journals/contours/1.1/zeleza.html). 11 November 2006.