solutions to religious intolerance in Nigeria: implication to national development
ISSN 2239-978X
Journal of Educational and Social Research
Vol. 3 (2) May 2013
Education and Religious Intolerance in Nigeria:
The Need for Essencism as a Philosophy
Barrister Samuel Asuquo Ekanem, Ph.D
Department of Educational Foundations And Administration
Faculty of Education, Cross River University of Technology, Calabar – Nigeria.
Ekeng Nyong Ekefre, Ph.D
Department of Educational Foundations And Aministration
Faculty Of Education, Cross River University of Technology, Calabar- nigeria
Doi:10.5901/jesr.2013.v3n2p303
Abstract
Nigeria as a nation is plaque with several socio-political and economic problems and challenges. However, the major challenges facing the country since 2007 that tend to defy all logic and solution is that of insecurity posed by the Boko Haram insurgency. Boko Haram, which literarily means “Western Education is sin”, according to the local parlance, is deeply rooted in religious intolerance. Historically, religious intolerance dates back to the 1980s when the Maitasine sect emerged. This sect posed a serious threat to the unity of the country. Due to the massive killing by the Maitasine sect, the country became polarized along religious line. The government managed to contend the sect somehow, but the “mustard seed” of that religious crisis was deeply planted and watered, so, the seed has been germinating with diverse botanical names. A deep reflection on religious intolerance in Nigeria will reveal that the problem is deeply rooted in the north. And this is the part of the country where the illiteracy rate is the highest. Again,the north, which is predominantly Moslem see everything with the spectacle of religion. The north as a people does not have a culture that is different from religion. Indeed, everything to an average northerner who is a Moslem is viewed from Islamic religion. So, to them, there are no differences between culture, politics and religion. This knitted relationship between these basic
Journal of Educational and Social Research
Vol. 3 (2) May 2013
Education and Religious Intolerance in Nigeria:
The Need for Essencism as a Philosophy
Barrister Samuel Asuquo Ekanem, Ph.D
Department of Educational Foundations And Administration
Faculty of Education, Cross River University of Technology, Calabar – Nigeria.
Ekeng Nyong Ekefre, Ph.D
Department of Educational Foundations And Aministration
Faculty Of Education, Cross River University of Technology, Calabar- nigeria
Doi:10.5901/jesr.2013.v3n2p303
Abstract
Nigeria as a nation is plaque with several socio-political and economic problems and challenges. However, the major challenges facing the country since 2007 that tend to defy all logic and solution is that of insecurity posed by the Boko Haram insurgency. Boko Haram, which literarily means “Western Education is sin”, according to the local parlance, is deeply rooted in religious intolerance. Historically, religious intolerance dates back to the 1980s when the Maitasine sect emerged. This sect posed a serious threat to the unity of the country. Due to the massive killing by the Maitasine sect, the country became polarized along religious line. The government managed to contend the sect somehow, but the “mustard seed” of that religious crisis was deeply planted and watered, so, the seed has been germinating with diverse botanical names. A deep reflection on religious intolerance in Nigeria will reveal that the problem is deeply rooted in the north. And this is the part of the country where the illiteracy rate is the highest. Again,the north, which is predominantly Moslem see everything with the spectacle of religion. The north as a people does not have a culture that is different from religion. Indeed, everything to an average northerner who is a Moslem is viewed from Islamic religion. So, to them, there are no differences between culture, politics and religion. This knitted relationship between these basic
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