Nigeria: Religion, Power, and Peacebuilding

About this episode

The episode explores the complex dynamics of religion, power, and peace in Nigeria amidst recent U.S. policy changes.

Late last year, the U.S redesignated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, a move that reignited fierce global debate and intensified an already complex moment in U.S.–Nigeria relations. U.S. military air strikes on Christmas that targeted an ISIS-affiliated terrorist group in northwest Nigeria, which the U.S. accused of persecuting Christians, further illustrates these complicated and evolving dynamics. What does this CPC redesignation mean for the millions of people living in Nigeria? Is this a necessary wake-up call for accountability or a surface-level solution to a deeply rooted complex crisis of political power and security? In this episode, Oge is joined by Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja and Dr. Usman Bugaje, senior adviser to the Sultan of Sokoto, to unpack the nexus of religion, power, and the desperate search for peace in one of the world’s most religiously vibrant countries.

People in this episode

Host: Oge

Guests: Dr Usman Bugaje, Cardinal John Onaiyekan

Topics covered

• Nigeria
• Religion
• Power
• Peacebuilding
• U.S.-Nigeria relations

Keywords

• Country of Particular Concern
• ISIS
• Christian persecution
• political power
• security crisis

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Nigeria, U.S, U.S.–Nigeria, Abuja, Sokoto

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