Violence in Nigeria: The Crisis of Religious Politics and Secular Ideologies (Rochester Studies in African History and the Diaspora)

792 Pages·2000·1.85 MB·English

by  Toyin Falola

Violence in Nigeria : The Crisis of
title:
Religious Politics and Secular Ideologies
author: Falola, Toyin.
publisher: University of Rochester
isbn10 | asin: 1580460186
print isbn13: 9781580460187
ebook isbn13: 9780585235400
language: English
Religion and politics--Nigeria--History-
-20th century, Violence--Religious aspects--
subject History--20th century, Violence--Nigeria--
History--20th century, Nigeria--Politics and
government--1960-
publication date: 1998
lcc: BL2470.N5F35 1998eb
ddc: 291.1/72/09669
Religion and politics--Nigeria--History-
-20th century, Violence--Religious aspects--
subject:
History--20th century, Violence--Nigeria--
History--20th century, Nigeria--Politics and
government--1960-
Page iii
Violence in Nigeria
The Crisis of Religious Politics and Secular Ideologies
Toyin Falola
Page iv
Disclaimer:
Some images in the original version of this book are not available for
inclusion in the netLibrary eBook.
Copyright © 1998 Toyin Falola
All Rights Reserved. Except as permitted under current legislation, no
part of this work may be photocopied, stored in a retrieval system,
published, performed in public, adapted, broadcast, transmitted,
recorded or reproduced in any form or by any means, without the
prior permission of the copyright owner.
First published 1998
University of Rochester Press
668 Mt. Hope Avenue
Rochester, NY 14620 USA
and at P.O. Box 9
Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 3DF
United Kingdom
ISBN 1580460186
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Falola, Toyin.
Violence in Nigeria: the crisis of religious politics and secular
ideologies / Toyin Falola.
p. cm.
Includes bibiliographical references (p. 361) and index.
ISBN 1580460186 (alk. paper)
1. Religion and politicsNigeriaHistory20th century.
2. ViolenceReligious aspectsHistory20th century. 3. Violence
NigeriaHistory20th century. 4. NigeriaPolitics and
government1960 I. Title.
BL2470.N5F35 1998 9747488
291.1'72'09669dc21 CIP
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is
available from the British Library
Designed and typeset by Cornerstone Composition Services
Printed in the United States of America
This publication is printed on acid-free paper
Page v
For my daughter, Bisola Omolola Falola
Page vi
For how long shall we continue this trial and error and groping for a
workable system? Given the present trend what chances do we stand
to survive as a nation? Can we even survive the present mess?
Perhaps more important, has there been any nation in history which
flourished under thoughts, ideas, institutions and political culture
which are not only alien but hold in contempt the history, culture and
conviction of a great majority of its people? . . . For Muslims nothing
is acceptable besides Islam. (Muslim Students Society, Radiance: A
Muslim Magazine for the Contemporary Mind, October 1983, 1.)
Nigeria is not a secular state. There are many religions in Nigeria.
For federalism to work, you concede to people their peculiarity.
(Abdukadir Orire, Grand Khadi of Kwara state, This Week, 24 Oct.
1988, 23.)
Religion is not the business of government. It is not a political matter
that should be of interest to the government. Any reasonable
government should and in fact must keep completely away from
religion. They should stay clear. (Archbishop Anthony Olubunmi
Okogie, The Guardian, 20 Nov. 1988.)
All-powerful and merciful Father, you are the God of justice, love, and
peace. We present our country, Nigeria, before you. We are sorry for
all the sins we have committed and for good deeds we have failed to
do. In your loving forgiveness keep us safe from the punishments we
deserve. Lord, we are weighed down not only by uncertainties but also
by moral, economic, and political problems. Spare this nation,
Nigeria, from chaos, anarchy, and doom. We ask this through Christ
our Lord. (Weekly prayer for Nigeria, St. Dominic's Catholic Church,
Lagos)

Page vii
Contents
Tables ix
Maps x
Preface xvii
Introduction 1
1 24
The Context: Islam, Christianity, and Interreligious
Relations
2 49
The Context: The Nigerian State in Historial Perspective
3 69
Religion and the State: A Theocracy in a Muslim World?
4 103
Religious Leadership and Agencies of Mobilization
5 137
A Reign of Terror: Violence in Northern Cities, 1980-
1985
6 163
A Decade of Clashes: Muslim-Christian Relations in the
1980s
7 193
"The Age of Warfare": Violence and Conflicts in the
1990s
8 227
Islam Against Islam
9 247
The War of Words: Hate Literature and Verbal Violence