SOCIO-POLITICAL ANALYSIS ON PEACE AND INSECURITY IN NIGERIA: THE ISLAMIC LAW OPTIONS

Abstract

It is impossible for any human society to achieve socio-political development in the absence of peaceful co-existence among its multi ethno-religions belief. Since independent in 1960, Nigeria has been faced with socio-political problems that impeded the peace and security of the nation up till the present time. In spite of all legal provisions in her laws to curb these crises, the nefarious activities of politicians undermine the efficacy of the law in ensuring peace and security in Nigeria. This paper is to provide an alternative option under Islamic Law as employed by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) during his reign in the commonwealth state of Medinat, that comprised of peoples with various socio-political and ethno-religion background. The paper adopts doctrinal approaches and applied the primary and secondary sources of information. The primary sources include the Glorious Qur’an, Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). The secondary sources include academic Journals, Textbooks, and reports in Newspapers. The paper submits that too many technicalities in the common law legal system were mostly responsible for the ineffectiveness of the common law legal system to achieve peaceful co-existence in the society, as against Islamic law that is rigid and enhances strict enforcement. The paper concludes that the application of Islamic law options would enhance socio-political development, peace and security in Nigeria.