Religious NGOs, Civil Society and the Quest for a Public Sphere in Nigeria.

Abstract

This article examines the changing role of religious organizations in the dynamics of the public sphere in Nigeria, and does so both in the light of the recognition of the growing importance of faith-based organizations across the continent, and within the framework of the discourse on religion, civil society and the public sphere. It argues that this is indeed an unstable relationship, with religious forces simultaneously complementing and under-mining the public domain. What is also clear from the Nigerian context is that faith-based organizations are in fact increasingly dissatisfied with what ought to be their presumed marginality in a secular political order. As such, they are using different methods to make their impact felt within the public domain , leading to an intense religious rivalry with serious implications for all involved - religious organizations, adherents, and the state itself.