AN AFRICAN TRADITIONAL RELIGIOUS APPROACH TO POLITICS OF DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Although, scholars have severally examined howinculcation of religious values could promote good politics, African traditional religious approach that may command individual's obedience to the rules and principles of good politics for societal development has been limitedly investigated.Hence, this study explored how African traditional religious approach would help to strengthen politics of development in Nigeria. Being qualitative and employing the method of content analysis, the research drew from both secondary and primary sources to explain how religious taboo, oath taking and sanctions could be used to elicit political compliance that is apposite for politics of development. The study concluded that African traditional religion from the dimension of taboo, sanctions and oath taking is a potent determinant for politics of development in the areas of electoral system, public accountability and administration of justice in Nigeria.