CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Presently, Nigeria is facing greater challenges to peace and stability than ever before. The different areas in the nation, the Northern region of the nation, the South West, and the Niger Delta, are a volatile mix of insecurity, ethno- religious dispute and political instability. Many have been killed in crises between the two major religious groups sparked by various events: aggressive campaigns by foreign evangelists; the implementation in 1999 and 2000 of Sharia, or Islamic law, from 12 out of 36 states in Nigeria; and the 2002 Miss World pageant saga which resulted into another religious imbroglio when a local Christian reporter, Isioma Daniel, outraged Muslims by writing in one of Nigeria's print media.
According to This Day, June 1999 the Prophet Mohammed would have chosen a wife from among the contestants. Likewise, in 2006, riots set off by Danish cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed left more people dead in Nigeria compared to anywhere else on the planet (This Day September 2006). The attention to the duty of religion in disputes has been stimulated by favorable and unfavorable developments, including the desecularisation of Nigeria's polity and the surge in religious disputes. In Nigeria today, interest is currently on the militant forms of religious fundamentalism as a threat to peace. Also important has been the sensation of constant armed religious dispute which have spread out rapidly throughout other states in the nation (Mason and Talbot 2000; Polgreen 2008).
Religious diversity appears to play a complicated role in these disputes, usually entrenching struggles over resources with ethnic violence and social exclusion. Both the federal government and some Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have developed various institutions to deal with ethno-religious disputes in the country. Many deal with them on an ad-hoc basis without articulating a basic means to process disputes. A few of these ad-hoc committees have gone to the level of developing a Conflict Management System (CMS) to deal with the issue of religious dispute in Nigeria (Kwaja 2009; Ahmed 2007). Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs) and Inter-Religious Mediation Groups are no exemption.
It is imperative to disclose that the seemingly failure of western model for conflict and crisis management in contemporary time as apparent in the country unrest and other countries has given birth to pronounced campaign for alternative means, including that of Islamic clerics. More western writers are showing passionate interest in this agitation. Hence, the work of Flamur Vehapi, entitled: ‘’Peace and Conflict Resolution in Islam’’ is one that cannot be joked with when it comes to Islamic clerics in conflict resolution and management in Nigeria.
While many Faith-based Organizations have well-developed programmes for conciliation, mediation, and scripture-based peacemaking, very few religious communities have taken advantage of the Church Missionary Society approach to their internal conflicts (Ibrahim 1999). Using contemporary examples, this study assesses the role of Islamic clerics in conflict resolution and management in Nigeria. This study is designed to be a contribution towards the ongoing search for a lasting peace to various religious crises in the country. The Nigerian government has taken strong actions to reduce tension, however the continuing religious disputes raise questions regarding the efficiency of these mechanisms to dealing with the issue of religious crises in the nation. It is on this basis that this study seeks to examine the role of Islamic clerics in conflict resolution and management in Nigeria.
1.2 Statement of the Problems
Religious violent activities of has brought a serious paralysis to business, banking sector, markets, tourism, transport system, hospitality, internal and external investment, companies and other economic activities. According to Okereocha (2012), due to attacks on banks, markets, parks and government departments in almost all the parts in the country, human capital and investors collapsed and became threat against economic development because of attacks on commercial areas which has led to the migration of people to other parts of the world. Religious violent activities has caused economic backwardness in Nigeria and necessitated increase in poverty, unemployment, insecurity and failure in sustainable human development that is not only in the in one part of the country but in all parts of the country as well as neighbouring countries like Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Benin. According to former minister of information, Mr. Labaran Maku stated that the Kano which functioned as the commercial centre of not just the North, but the whole neighbouring nations since before the evolution of Nigeria, Kano was the commercial centre of Western Sudan for the past 500 years; it has been ruined by various unrests. The more you destabilized peace in Kano, the more you destabilized the foundation of economic and social well-being of the north (Suleiman, 2012).
Nigeria is a state where Islam, Christianity and traditional African religions are freely practiced. Nigeria's two major religions, Islam and Christianity, are sometimes depicted as monolithic entities that confront each other in pitched battles. Nigeria's two major religions, Islam and Christianity, are in some cases portrayed as monolithic entities that challenge each other in pitched battles. Religious ideas and values are an essential attribute of the lives of lots of families and communities in the nation (Kukah 1993).
It should also be emphasized that traditional beliefs, values and practices have a powerful impact upon our patterns of life and social interaction, Nigeria's two significant religions, Islam and Christianity, are sometimes depicted as monolithic entities that challenge each other in pitched battles. With a populace of more than 200 million and over 250 ethno-linguistic groups, it is the only nation with a population of roughly half Christians and half Muslims (Paden, 2008; Kwaja, 2009). Therefore, for peace to reign in the country all the religious leaders have a role to play. It is on this claim that this study seeks to assess the role of Islamic clerics in conflict resolution and management in Nigeria.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The primary aim of the study is to assess the role of Islamic clerics in conflict resolution and management in Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study are:
i) To determine the strategies used by Islamic clerics for conflict management
ii) To study the applications of inter-religious mediation strategy in Nigeria
iii) To identify the factors limiting the strategies used by Islamic clerics for conflict management
1.4 Research Questions
i) What are the strategies used by Islamic clerics for conflict management?
ii) What are the applications of inter-religious mediation strategy in Nigeria?
iii) What are the factors limiting the strategies used by Islamic clerics for conflict management?
1.5 Significance of the Study
This study will be significant in that, it will help future researches and the entire religious communities will benefit from the findings and recommendations on the role of Islamic clerics in conflict resolution and management in Nigeria. To the policy makers, it will throw more lights and be of a great help for policy formulation and implementation. Furthermore, the study will offer inclusive recommendations on how well to effectively involve religious actors in conflict management and reconciliation.
Methodologically, the study will break a new ground by using primary sources of data (questionnaire, interview and focus group discussion) to probe into the contributions to role of Islamic clerics in conflict resolution and management in Nigeria as against previous attempts that used desk research studies to investigate the role of Islamic clerics in conflict resolution and management in Nigeria.
1.6 Scope of the Study
The focus of the study was limited to the role of Islamic clerics in conflict resolution and management in Nigeria. Therefore, one hundred Islamic Cleric across the country will be selected for this study.
1.7 Operational Definition
Conflict: is defined as a clash between individuals arising out of a difference in thought process, attitudes, understanding, interests, requirements and even sometimes perceptions. A conflict results in heated arguments, physical abuses and definitely loss of peace and harmony.
Religion: The study defines religion as a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and world views that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. The word religion was sometimes used interchangeably with faith or belief system.
Conflict Management: is the process by which disputes are resolved, where negative results are minimized and positive results are prioritized. This key management skill involves using different tactics depending on the situation, negotiation, and creative thinking.
Conflict Resolution: is a way for two or more parties to find a peaceful solution to a disagreement among them. The disagreement may be personal, financial, political, or emotional. When a dispute arises, often the best course of action is negotiation to resolve the disagreement.
