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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Government and religious patronage in contemporary Nigeria (1980-1989): implications for the stability of the nation
Author:Ajayi, 'Gboyega
Year:1990
Periodical:Zeitschrift für Afrikastudien
Issue:7-8
Pages:55-65
Language:English
Geographic term:Nigeria
Subjects:Islam
Church and State
politics
Abstract:During the period 1980-1989 the various governments of Nigeria have always patronized various religious groups, albeit with varying degrees of commitment. While the Shehu Shagari administration strove to maintain an appearance of balanced involvement in religious activities, the Buhari regime did not overtly patronize any religion, although it continued to maintain inherited religious structures established by the State. But the Babangida regime, since its coming into power in 1985, has been covertly and overtly patronizing religion, especially Islam. This is evident from the clandestine enrolment of Nigeria as a member of the Organisation of Islamic Conference, the preferential treatment of pilgrims, the condonation of treasonous utterances of some highly placed religious clerics, and even from the way in which government-owned media agencies have been turned into religious propaganda machines. The author of this article sees these moves as attempts to satisfy selfish political interests at the expense of the corporate existence of the nation. He argues that 'not only should religion be outlawed in any future political arrangement but also that government should desist forthwith all patronage, covert and overt, of religious institutions and bodies'. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. in English and German.
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