RELIGION AND POLITICS FOR SUSTAINABLE PEACEBUILDING IN SOUTH WESTERN NIGERIA

<p><strong><span lang="EN-GB">Abstract</span></strong></p> <p><span lang="EN-GB">The study explores the complex relationship between religion, politics, and peace-building in the South West Nigeria. This study is borne out of a deep concern about contradictory features of religious practices on one side, and politics of peace often deployed by political leaders and government to manage or resolve religious conflicts; and the study also examines the failure of politics of peace to foster sustainable development and peace-building in south western Nigeria. The purpose of religion seems to have been misunderstood and the implication for the whole world is devastating. The background and religious landscape of the South West Nigeria is significantly characterised by religious tolerance and interfaith relations and it is, to a good extent, contributing to peacebuilding interventions in Nigeria. However, religious ideologies, at times, engender aberrant behaviours with indisputable escalation of violation of religious boundaries and human rights. Qualitative approach including interviews with purposive sampling of six informants with good experience in both religion and politics across south western geopolitical zone and across the two major religions and document analysis for explanatory and exploratory results were employed. Findings show that both religion and politics are social instruments in the hands of actors and they engage the instruments both for the advancement or degradation of humans depending on their instincts and external influences. The study concludes that both religion and politics are complex and intertwined and veritable instruments for social engagements, therefore, it is recommended that religion as well as politics be deployed to promote sustainable peacebuilding in south western Nigeria.</span></p> <p><strong><span lang="EN-GB">Keywords</span></strong><span lang="EN-GB">: <span>Paradox of religion, Religious practices, Politics, Sustainable peacebuilding, South western Nigeria, Sustainable development.</span></span></p>