RELIGION AND ETHNICITY AS STRATAGEMS FOR THE TRIUMPH OF MEDIOCRITY IN NIGERIA: RECONNECTING THE DISCONNECT THROUGH FEDERALISM

Nigeria as a Nation has been experiencing socio-political convulsion on the basis of religion and ethnicity. The independent and post independent Nigeria is not an exception from this hiccup. This paper investigated religion and ethnicity as stratagems for the triumph of mediocrity in Nigeria thus reconnecting the disconnect through federalism. The research has adopted both descriptive and analytical methods of investigation. As a diverse and heterogeneous nation, the Northerners have consistently asserted their dominance and hegemony over others, as if Northerners are birthed with Nigeria political power. In their ethno-religious exhibition, other religions are subservient, and in their own view, the very least believer in their religion is far better than the greatest in other religion(s). The findings revealed that the aftermath of this promotion of religion and ethnicity in the Nigerian politics is the triumph of mediocrity, incompetent, unpopular and irrational candidates. The paper, therefore, recommends federalism as a means for reconnecting the disconnect between religion and ethnicity in Nigeria.