An Evaluation of the Impacts of Religion and Politics in Developing Nigeria Towards Integrity

Abstract

Religion is a concept which naturally evokes positive sentiments of goodness, kindness, love rectitude, peace with God, with oneself, and fellow-men. This serves as a potent tool that can create integrity in our society. Politics is the activities involved in getting and using power in public life, and being able to influence decision that affects a society. The relationship between politics and religion is intimate because there is always a point of convergence. Focusing on state of Nigeria as a typical example of a religious pluralism, there are two dominant religious groups namely, Islam and Christianity, and both impact to breathe integrity into the society. Some scholars write on the roles of religion and politics but the aspect of integrity is missing. So, the recognition of the problem brought about by the politicians and religious leaders without integrity in their ways of governance has inspired the writing of this paper which is aimed at exploring the relationship between them; how they both relate to power, and how their relationship can develop Nigeria towards integrity. This paper used historical method for data gathering. Secondary data were sourced from published books and effectively used to analyse the cogent means through which both can serve as a developing tool in Nigeria so as to generate integrity for the society. It was noted that the relationship between religion and politics in development is likely to be complementary as long as religious beliefs and practices promotes integrity in all spheres of life. Therefore, development and integrity is impossible without religious values and political sanctity.