International Relations Under Islamic Law: A Critique of Its Implications for Nigerian Constitutional Democracy

Abstract

Sharia and Islam have been an important factor in the evolution of Nigerian democracy. Sharia, no doubt, is at the root of the impetus for Islamic international relations and diplomacy. As a strong integrating index, sharia powers and regulates the interrelations among Islamic enclaves that claim themselves to constitute a one-world religious order (ummah). United and concerted role playing in fostering the interests of Islam, Islamic organizations and institutions, sometimes in utter defiance to the ideals of multiculturalism and pluralism, has proved a clawback to the survival of genuine democracy in developing nations. The multi-religious Nigeria represents a veritable but unfortunate instance in which a supposedly secular nation is smuggled into pure Islamic aggregations resulting, as it were, to mosaic of socio-political crises and dysfunctions. It is suggested in this paper that a reform of Islamic ethos and laws in addition to embracing the features of democracy would make up the panacea,