15/07/2025
Religion, Culture, and Politics: Unifying Nigeria with a Nigeria-First Mentality
Nigeria is a beautifully complex nation with countless languages, cultures, and religions woven into its identity. Yet these very differences that should unite us are often used to divide us, especially within the political space. Politicians have learnt to weaponize religion, fuelling sentiments that deepen divides rather than bridge them.
But imagine if we flipped the coin if religion, culture, and politics were not tools for manipulation but tools for unification. What if we all embraced a Nigeria-first mentalit? One where, before we speak as Christians, Muslims, traditionalists, Northerners, Southerners, Igbos, Hausas, Yorubas, or any ethnic group, we speak first as Nigerians bound by a common hope for a better nation.
It begins with perspective. Seeing through the lenses of others. When you make people realise that you see them, that you understand their fears, hopes, and struggles, then you earn the right to drive home your perspective. Unity is not uniformity; it is the ability to respect differences while holding on to shared aspirations.
Clerics have a powerful role to play. Their pulpits are sacred spaces that must remain neutral. When religious leaders publicly take political sides, they risk losing moral authority and become instruments in the hands of political actors, knowingly or unknowingly fuelling discord. A neutral standpoint preserves the sanctity of their calling and ensures that the people’s minds remain focused on truth, justice, and righteousness rather than on partisan divisions.
Finally, biases and stereotypes must be addressed, not just from community or ethnic angles but from a national standpoint. We cannot build a just country while carrying old prejudices. We must learn to see ourselves as Nigerians first before anything else. Only then can religion, culture, and politics become true unifying tools, building a nation where justice, equity, and peace reign.