CAN TRADITIONAL (INDIGENIOUS) RELIGIOUS SYSTEM CHECK-MATE CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA SYSTEM OF GOVERNANCE

Abstract

African traditional societies were not perse sacrosanct. There were elements of corruption here and there. However, the citizen abhorred, condemned and frowned seriously at any corruptible behaviour. Corruption which has to do with deprivation and neglect of justice, love, charity and fairness was not loudly pronounced in our traditional societies because of the inseparable attachment the people had with religion which permeated all spheres of their lives and made them disassociate themselves from anything evil or corrupt. The adherents of traditional religion had very close affinity to God, whom they also approached through pantheons of spiritual forces. They also had a very clear idea of the living dead-the ancestors whom they venerated from time to time and behaved in a manner that appeared to suggest that their conducts morally and otherwise were constantly being evaluated or assessed by the gods and ancestors. Going by this background, this paper will be making a clarion call for all to be more religious conscious and adopt a life of moral rectitude as those in our traditional societies in order to get our present society corrupt free.