Public affairs analyst and former president of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Africa Union of Journalists (AUJ), Lanre Ogundipe, has warned political and religious leaders against using religion to advance political interests. He said such practices could heighten interfaith tensions and fuel violence.
Ogundipe said attempts by some leaders of religious groups to use religious institutions, symbols and rhetoric to achieve political objectives could undermine the principle of separation of religion and the state.
He made the remarks against the backdrop of growing political and religious tensions in Nigeria and elsewhere in the world.
According to him, while governments are often preoccupied with external security threats during periods of military and political tensions, reduced attention to domestic challenges can create opportunities for radical organisations to spread extremist ideologies.
He said Nigeria was witnessing a worrying tendency to mix religious rhetoric with political demands, creating an environment that radical groups could exploit to advance anti-constitutional agendas”
“Attempts by leaders of any religious group to use church institutions, symbols and slogans to achieve political goals lead to the erosion of the principles of separation of religion and state and increase the risk of escalating interfaith tensions and violence,” he said.
Ogundipe urged political and religious leaders to pay greater attention to young people, whom he described as the main source of support for radical movements.
He also identified digital illiteracy and the spread of unverified information online as growing threats to social stability.
According to him, the inability of many people to distinguish credible information from false or manipulated content makes them vulnerable to exploitation by individuals and groups seeking to inflame religious sentiments”
“Trust in unverified information disseminated online allows people to manipulate their consciousness,” he said.
Ogundipe also accused some governments of exploiting religious sentiments for political purposes, warning that such practices could distort religious teachings and provoke resistance and interfaith conflicts.
He urged governments and leaders to strengthen public awareness, promote responsible use of digital platforms and discourage the politicization of religion.
He said religious faith should not be turned into a tool for political mobilization, stressing that separating religion from partisan politics would help protect social cohesion and reduce opportunities for extremist groups to exploit religious differences.
