NIGERIA'S WEAPONIZATION OF RELIGION AND ETHNICITY: THE CHALLENGE OF FAILED LEADERSHIP AND A SYMBOL OF LEGACY OF PEACE AND UNITY FOR SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The study focuses on Nigeria's Weaponization of Religion and Ethnicity, examining the impact of this phenomenon on the country's development and stability, with the broad objective of identifying strategies to promote inclusive governance and national unity. The study adopted a survey research design, employing a mixed-methods approach that combined qualitative and quantitative methods, including surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions. Primary data was collected from high-profile stakeholders, including politicians, lawmakers, public administrators, and traditional leaders, while secondary data was sourced from reports and academic journals. The study used SPSS software to analyze quantitative data and thematic analysis for qualitative data. A stratified sampling technique was used to select the sample, and the social identity theory and institutional theory were applied to understand the challenges facing Nigeria. The Yaro Yamane mathematical tool was used to determine the sample size of 399 from a population of 140 million, and the study used SPSS package to analyze the data. The study revealed that exclusion and marginalization are significant challenges in Nigeria, that effective governance and institutional capacity are essential for promoting development and stability, and that long-term vision is critical for Nigeria's development. The study recommends that the government promotes inclusive governance and ensures that all groups are represented in decision-making processes, prioritizes effective governance and institutional capacity building, and develops a long-term vision for the country's development. By implementing these recommendations, Nigeria can minimize and potentially eliminate the decades of weaponization of religion and ethnicity that have hindered its progress, and thus, the decades of Nigeria's weaponization of religion and ethnicity will be totally eliminated in the nation's sand of time