CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
The
concept of development was interpreted in terms of growth of output over time
and later in terms of per capita output. Growth and development are
mostly used interchangeably.
Economic development double variable concept; so there is no general acceptable
definition for it. Economic development is a process where low income national
economies are transformed into modern industrial economies. It involves
qualitative and quantitative improvements in a country’s economy. Political and
social transformations are also included in the concept of economic development
in addition to economic changes. Economic development can also be defined as
“the passage from lower to higher economic levels which implies change”.
The
relationship that exist between politics and religion in Nigeria is close
because there is always a point of intersection. Also, the relationship is
complex because of the intricacies inherent in the politicization of religion.
In Nigeria, today, there are two major religions i.e. Islam and Christianity.
Both religion are not recognized here to the universalization of the position
of traditional philosophy; the main reason why they take main level in this
work is deliberate because of the impact of both religion on the governance of
Nigeria govt and politics. The effect they profound reinforce regional and
ethnic differences and this makes economic stability more difficult.
Scholars
of religion like Imo (1986: 1-5) do not agree on a single definition of
‘religion’ because religion is a combination of two things i.e. the profane and
the supernatural. Therefore, a comprehensive definition has to take both into
consideration. Some approach this definition with prejudice while some scholars
of religion do not have a specific religion so they lack the experience. A good
definition, emphasizes by Imo should have specificity and inclusiveness. He
advances that religion is the varied, symbolic expression of, and appropriate
response to that, in which people deliberately affirm as being of unrestricted
value for them. McGee (1980:362-365) posits that most religious communities are
mostly different by the main object of their worship. It is around this sacred
object, person or concept, patterns, ritual practices, ethical system and
social organization take form. He defines religion as “a set of activities
organized around the sacred- that non-empirical source of power, transcendence,
mystery and awe’. The primary methods of religion include the belief patterns
which accommodate the sacred reality people experience through revealed knowledge,
reflection or divine light; ritual practices which are prescribed for believers
as appropriate human responses in the relationship to the ultimate being or
value; ethical codes which are behavior directed towards other person; and
cultic organization.
Abearian
& Masannat (1970:9) define politics as “a phenomenon which has its origin
in the class of individual preferences, its process in public demands for
accommodation of competing goals and its output in the form of binding public
polices’. In a similar vein David Easton (Cited in Olaniyi, 2001:2) defined
politics as being concerned with the process of “acquiring power to allocate
economy values in any social system”. Values here include those things human
being loves to acquire such as fame, riche, security, authority etc. Looking at
the different positions of scholars on the concepts of religion and politics,
both seem to have a set of well stated objectives. These structured objectives
are directed or targeted at the people who could be ‘adherents’ or ‘citizens’
as the case may be. The question now is: are their boundaries similar? Or do
their main objectives relate at a point which ultimately necessitates
infiltration by both? Hank Eso sees religion as a tool of politics and that in
the real sense of it both make strange bedfellows. In his words: “Just as
soccer is singularly the sole and most unifying factor in Nigeria, nothing is
as divisive as religion-especially when it is used as a tool of politics”. Hank
Eso (2003). It should therefore be noted that in sharply divided societies,
like Nigeria where Islam and Christianity are in competition, ethnic sentiments
are wielded and this invariably threatens the stability of the system. Despite
efforts to keep religion and politics separate, history offers many occasions
when the two have often been very closely intertwined. Sometimes, a religion
endorses or supports a particular leader or system. One example is the Divine
Right of Kings in which royal power is believed to be derived directly from God
and therefore must be obeyed. Also Niccolo Machiavelli advocated that rulers
use the power of the church to establish and maintain their reigns, believing
that this would maintain stability in the society. In a related way, religion
has often been used as a means of defining or maintaining social class
structures. Conversely, different classes have at times overwhelmingly adopted
different faiths. On the other side of the coin, some governments have either
endorsed or fully administered specific religions, sometimes to the degree that
citizens have strongly been discouraged from following any other.
The
level of development of a country is affected by many factors. Economists tend
to emphasize the impact of economic variables however; political and social
factors can also be very important determinant of national development. This
study therefore examined the influence of religion and politics on the
development of Kogi state Nigeria.
1.2
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Nigerian
has three prominent religion which are: Christianity, Islam and traditional
religion. Christianity and Islam are foreign religions; while traditional
religion is the main of local religious. The two religions is universal while
traditional religion is mainly practiced in Nigeria. The traditional religion
has no main body of teaching which is regarded as valid forever (at all times)
as it has no main mission, so competition does not exist, hence traditional
religion cannot be a divisive force. So, traditional religion does not cause
havoc in our society, the problem exists between Islamic and Christian
religion. The economic development of Nigeria is mostly affected by the
political and religious leaders hereby there should be a good and cordial relationship
between the two parties. Politics is important as almost everybody is involved
in it one way of the other, but some religious leaders mostly Christians
stigmatize politics henceforth affects the rate by which incapable personnel
take charge of country’s politics.
1.3
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The
study is focused largely, though not exclusively, at the impacts of national
politics and religion in Kogi state Nigeria. The specific objective are:
1.
To determine the rate at which religion affect economic development in kogi
state
2.
To know the impact of politics on the economic development of kogi state
3.
To examine the effect of religion on the political orientation of people in
kogi state
4.
To discover if any relationship exist between the religious and political
leaders in Kogi state.
1.4
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The
relevant research questions related to this study are:
1.
At what rate does religion affect economic development of kogi state?
2.
What impact does politics have on the development of kogi state?
3.
Does religion has any effect on the political orientation in kogi state?
4.
Are there any relationship between the religious and political leaders in kogi
state?
1.5
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This
study will expose students, religious leaders and political leaders and other
stakeholders involved in making tangible and important decisions and policies
that affects and brings development to the state on how their decisions and
relationship with each affects the economic development of the state.
1.6
SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This
study covers the the entire population of kogi state, but due to time and some
other constraints samples re taken from Adavi, Ajaokuta local govt area of kogi
state.
1.7
DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The
major constraints the researcher encountered while conducting this research is
time and inaccessibility to some top political and religious leaders.
1.8
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Development:
development economically can be defined as efforts that seek to improve
the economic well-being and quality of
life for a community by creating and/or retaining jobs and supporting or
growing incomes and the tax base.
Religion:
the belief in and worship of a
superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods.
Politics:
the activities associated with the
governance of a country or area, especially the debate between parties having
power.