THE ISSUE AND QUESTION OF ETHNIC POLITICS AND RELIGIOUS DICHOTOMY AS RESPONSIBLE FOR NIGERIAN CURRENT DEMOCRATIC QUAGMIRES

Abstract

This paper which is critical in nature, rationally examines the issue and question of ethnic politics and religious dichotomy in Nigeria. The idea behind this paper was driven, given the present challenges of ethnic and religious factors, which as identified, are barriers militating against the desired quest for an improved and viable democracy in Nigeria. The study discovered that the politics of ethnicity and religious divides within the Nigerian polity has been an aged long tradition. Although, not constitutionally backed, it has been argued by many Nigerians and opinion moulders that political parties in Nigeria should choose/select their presidential candidates for periodic general elections in consideration of these phenomena. By towering this way, governances in Nigeria are also patterned and guided along ethnic and religious embryo. Political parties in Nigeria therefore, are most often created along ethnic lines and religious affiliations. Despite the calls for national cohesion and true democracy by plethora of Nigerians, the quest towards this realization remains lacking, difficult, and most often if not seemly appear to be impossible to attain. The study argues that ethnic politics and religious dichotomy, amongst other factors are responsible for Nigerian democratic quagmires. This paper therefore concludes that the consideration of democratic arrangement along ethnic and religious bias is not a trajectory for national cohesion and devolution of power in Nigeria and as such should be redefined in order to achieve a better democratic experience.