The Marriage of Religion and State in Nigeria

Peter Damilola Adegoke

The struggle for the separation of religion and state across democratically minded countries has been subject of debate for ages now and the struggle in Nigeria, the government seems to be playing Janus face on this serious issue.

Prayers are said in all schools across the federation from elementary schools to institutions of higher learning. A man in my neighborhood in Lagos beat his poor kid to death for not attending a koranic recitation class; nothing substantial has been done on the case till date. At the end of every presidential speech, it is traditional for our head of states to state sanctimoniously thus:

Church and State aren't really separate. The Church supports the State, encourages followers to vote correctly, and fight wars (as long as it is against some other religion.) The State supports the Church, religion is a business and pays no taxes. Their claim to provide a service, everlasting existance, yet offer no evidence to support that claim.