Secularism in Nigeria
[6] Islam was introduced to northern Nigeria by Arab traders and missionaries in the 11th century, and became the dominant religion of the Hausa, Fulani, and Kanuri peoples.
[8] Traditional African religions were indigenous to Nigeria, and involved the worship of various gods, spirits, ancestors, and natural forces.
[14] Britain adopted a policy of indirect rule in Nigeria, which meant that it governed through local rulers who were loyal to the British crown.
[13] The colonial era also witnessed the emergence of nationalism and anti-colonial movements in Nigeria, which sought to end British rule and achieve independence.
[16] Some of the prominent nationalist leaders include Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, and Herbert Macaulay.
[18] The post-colonial era has been marked by political instability, military coups, civil war, ethnic conflicts, religious violence, corruption, and economic crises.
[19] The constitution also provided for the establishment of Sharia courts of appeal in the Northern Region, which had jurisdiction over matters of Islamic personal law.
[22] The constitution also expanded the scope of Sharia courts of appeal to cover all states that desired them, and gave them jurisdiction over civil proceedings involving questions of Islamic law.
[25] The constitution also maintains the provision for Sharia courts of appeal in states that desire them but limits their jurisdiction to matters relating to Islamic personal law.
[31] According to a report by the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, over 50,000 Christians have been killed by Islamist extremists in Nigeria since 2009.
[32][34] Some of the perpetrators of these attacks include the militant Islamist group Boko Haram, which aims to establish an Islamic state in Nigeria, and the Fulani herdsmen, who often clash with Christian farmers over land and resources.
Some of the factors that contribute to the problem include: Secularism is a legal position in the supreme law of Nigeria, stating that religious belief should not influence any public or governmental decisions.
[50] Some studies suggest that there is no inherent contradiction between Islam or Christianity and democracy, and that Nigerians across different religions support democratic values and principles.
[51] However, some studies also indicate that there are significant differences among Nigerians regarding their attitudes towards secularism, democracy, human rights, gender equality, tolerance, trust, civic engagement, etc., depending on their religious affiliation.
