CONTESTATION FOR PUBLIC SPACE BY RELIGIOUS GROUPS AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR INTER-RELIGIOUS HARMONY IN OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Public spaces are areas that are collectively owned and accessible to all people. However, the usage of such spaces always attracts conflict among contending users especially religious groups. Scholars have examined the implications of contestation for public space by religious groups from legal, environmental, political and public policy perspectives. However, scanty attention has been paid to the connection between contestation for public space and inter-religious harmony. The contestation for public space by different religious groups, factors responsible for the contestation, its effects and implications for inter-religious harmony in Oyo State were examined.

Tajfel and Turner’s Social Identity Theory provided the framework, while descriptive survey research design was utilised. Copies of a structured questionnaire were administered on 700 purposively selected respondents in Ibadan (250), Ogbomoso (170), Iseyin (150) and Igbo-Ora (130) based on their past experiences of religious conflict resulting from contestation for public space. In-depth interviews were held with 55 respondents as follow: Christians (20), Muslims (20), Egúngún and Orò worshippers (10), Chairmen of landlord associations (3) and Directors in the State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources and the Bureau for Physical Planning and Development Control (2). Non-participant observation of religious activities in public spaces was also carried out in Ibadan. Quantitative data were analysed and interpreted using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were content analysed.

Respondents identified blocking of roads (59.0%); erection of loudspeakers on religious houses (82.9%); and indiscriminate pasting of posters, billboards and banners in public arena such as public buildings and roadsides (80.8%) as the modes of contestation for public space by religious groups. Factors that engendered contestation for public spaces included the need to fulfil religious obligations such as evangelism (Mark 16:15-16), da’awah (Qur’an 3:104), and traditional rituals (57.5%); desire to create public awareness and enhance the identity of religious organisations (75.5%); protection of religion against domination by others (50.5%); and exercise of constitutional right to worship in the public (48.0%). Non-participant observation showed that contestation for public space resulted in obstruction of vehicular and pedestrian movement and defacement of public and private places which also resulted in visual pollution. Furthermore, most of the interviewees affirmed that contestation for public space also resulted in disturbance of people through noise pollution. Consequently, the effects of the contestation had negative implications in the sense that they led to unhealthy rivalry among religious groups, latent intra-religious conflicts and the triggering of inter-religious conflicts among adherents of different religions. Therefore, they all undermined efforts at promoting interfaith dialogue and inter-religious harmony in Oyo State.

Contestation for public space by religious groups has negative implications for inter-religious peace and harmony in Oyo State. Therefore, the Oyo State Government should collaborate with leaders of religious bodies to enlighten religious adherents on the need for harmonious use of public spaces; existing laws on the use of public space should be strictly enforced for effective regulations of religious activities in public spaces.