DOMESTIC RELIGIOUS CONFLICT AND THE ROLES OF TRADITIONAL RULERS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Nigeria is currently plagued in great intensity by domestic religious conflict
with grave danger for the nation’s existence. The momentum the domestic
religious conflict indicates ineffectiveness of the measures adopted by the
Nigerian government to address the phenomenon and the need to search for
an alternative institution such as traditional rulers to play some roles. This
article based on desk information examines the potential roles and status of
the role of traditional rulers in addressing domestic religious conflict. The
article reveals that traditional rulers have potential roles to play in
mitigating domestic religious conflict in terms of provision of early warning
signals, peacemaking and peacebuilding. Unlike state officials, the
potentials of traditional rulers to play these roles derive from their
durability, adaptability, proximity to the grassroots with a greater spatial
familiarity of the local communities where domestic religious conflict often
occurs. However, the status of the role of traditional rulers in the
management domestic religious conflict has been marginal due to weak
resource base and overbearing influence of the state. Thus, to be more
effective in the management of domestic religious conflict, there is need for
traditional rulers to demonstrate exemplary conducts in their respective
domains, and to arouse awareness of traditional rulers to their potential,
encourage them to form strategic alliance with themselves and agents of the
state and act in concert