The Role of State Constitutions in Protecting ... - International IDEA

almajirai, 31 security inadequacy, intensification of micro-nationalism, absence of
justice and equity and weakness of Civil Society groups. 32 Increasingly, most
ethnic clashes in Nigeria often have religious dimensions. 33
Surveying ethnic and religious crises in Nigeria there are clearly some trends. First
impressions are that the crises are triggered mainly by religious reasons. But the
reasons for the crisis go beyond religion to include political and economic factors.
The political class lacks national acceptance and cannot spearhead a national
mobilizing ideology, it resorts increasingly to the politicization of ethnicity, and
makes a fetish of religious differences, and the awakening of pristine and atavistic
norms and practices. 34 The Muslims appeared to be on the offensive. But some
have pointed out that “Muslims are often provoked into violent action by offensive
preaching by some Christian Evangelists.” 35 Thirdly, the frequency and intensity
of conflicts increased during the Babangida regime. This may not be unconnnected
with the controversy that engulfed the nation when Nigeria applied for
membership of Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC). Finally, there has been
an increase in violence and many crises since return to civil rule in Nigeria.
Studies have shown that when countries emerge from long years of authoritarian
rule through pacted transition arrangements, there is the tendency for increased
violence particularly if greater emphasis is not placed on the building of institutions
and mechanisms to operate them.
…measures to curb
ethnic and religious
conflicts include:
• Adoption of Federalism.
• Enhancement of
Human Rights.
• Adoption of a
Multi-Party System.
• Modification of
Electoral System.
• Prohibition of Ethnic and
Religious Parties.
• Prohibition of
State Religion.
Some measures have been taken to curb ethnic and religious conflicts. 36 These
include:
◆ Adoption of Federalism in Nigeria: It was reasoned that with the
diversity of Nigeria, federalism would be the best system suited for the
country. As noted earlier, the move towards federalism, which started with
the Richards Constitution of 1946, was consolidated by the Lyttleton
Constitution of 1954 when there was co-existence of the Federal
Government alongside the Regional Governments of North, East and
West. In 1963, the Midwest region was created bringing the number of
regions in the country to four. Each region had its own police, Courts and
Prisons. The intrusion of the military into governance changed all these and
turned the country into a defacto unitary and centralized State after the
manner of military high commands.
◆ Entrenchment of fundamental Human Rights provisions in the
Constitution: During the 1954 Constitutional Conference that led to the
31) Children that are given to experienced Islamic clerics for the purposes of Koranic lessons. In most cases, they are
left to fend for themselves through begging.
32) Shawalu, “The Socio-Economic and Political Context of Ethnic and Religious Crises in Nigeria” in Okoye, F. (Ed)
(2000), Impact of Religious and Ethnic Conflicts on Women and children in Northern Nigeria, Kaduna, Human Rights
Monitor
33) Okafor, F. U.(1997) (Ed), New Strategies for Curbing Ethnic and Religious conflicts in Nigeria, Enugu, fourth
Dimension Publishers; Alemika, E.E.O. “Sociological Analysis of Ethnic and Religious Conflicts in the Middle Belt of
Nigeria” in Ethnic & Religious Rights, A Quarterly Publication of Human Rights Monitor Special Edition, April, 2000;
Okoye, F. (Ed)(2000), Impact of Religious and Ethnic Conflicts on Women and children in Northern Nigeria, Kaduna,
Human Rights Monitor
34) Williams, P.T (1997), “New Measures to Ensure an Effective Separation of State and Religion in Nigeria” in Okafor, F.
U.(1997) (Ed), New Strategies for Curbing Ethnic and Religious conflicts in Nigeria, Enugu, fourth Dimension Publishers
35) Udoidem, S. I. (1997), “Religion in the Political Life of Nigeria: A Survey of Religious Related Crisis since independence”
in Okafor, F. U.(1997) (Ed), New Strategies for Curbing Ethnic and Religious conflicts in Nigeria, Enugu, fourth
Dimension Publishers, p. 179
36) Okafor, F. U.(1997) (Ed), New Strategies for Curbing Ethnic and Religious conflicts in Nigeria, Enugu, fourth
Dimension Publishers
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