February 20, 2012
Northern Nigerians' Views Not in Line With Boko Haram's
Few would support Sharia as the only source of legislation
by Magali Rheault and Bob Tortora

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Gallup surveys suggest Nigerians do not embrace the anti-Western rhetoric of Boko Haram, the militant movement behind a series of deadly attacks in the country. About 6 in 10 Nigerians believe greater interaction with the West is more of a benefit than a threat. In Boko Haram's Northeast home base, nearly 7 in 10 say the same. Majorities of residents in other northern regions, which are home to many Muslims, also view such interaction positively.

Muslim-West interactions in Nigeria
In the predominantly Christian South, attitudes about increased interaction with the West range widely from 8 in 10 in favor in the Southwest to 2 in 10 in favor in the Southeast, the region that is least likely to view such interaction as a benefit.

2[b]For Northerners, Sharia Should not Be the Only Source of Legislation[/b]
While reliable information about Boko Haram is scarce, its tactics have led some observers to allege that the group has links to al Qaeda, with the potential of compromising security issues in neighboring countries. The group also seeks to challenge the legitimacy of the current government and implement Sharia across Nigeria. However, ethno-religious diversity in most regions is relatively widespread, with Muslims living alongside Christians and followers of traditional beliefs. Twelve Nigerian states currently use Sharia in criminal proceedings.
The majority of residents in the Northeast region said in 2010 that Sharia must be one of the sources of legislation -- making them among the most likely in Nigeria to say so. However, no resident in the Northeast region said Sharia must be the only source of law, while 36% said it should not be a source at all. Residents in the southern regions, where relatively few Muslims live, are the most likely to believe Sharia should not be a source of national legislation.

3[b]Approval of the Country Leadership Shows Apparent North-South Divide[/b]
Since 2009, Boko Haram's attacks have killed hundreds of civilians, Muslims and Christians alike. But by targeting police officers and officials, the group also seeks to destabilize the Nigerian government and its institutions. In August 2011, more than 6 in 10 Nigerians said they approve of their country's leadership. Approval is slightly lower than average in the Northeast region, with about 4 in 10 residents approving of the country's leadership.
However, this relatively low level of approval is statistically on par with levels in the other two northern regions. In the three southern regions, approval of the country leadership hovers around 70%, perhaps not surprisingly because the president and the finance minister are from the South. As such, it appears there is a divide between Northerners and Southerners, but the only statistical difference is between the Northeast and the three southern regions.

4[b]In the North, Standard of Living Is Stagnant[/b]
Many observers see Boko Haram's actions as a response to government corruption and regional economic disparities. Boko Haram has denounced government corruption, but Nigerians are already aware of the governance issue in their country.
On the economic front, the lack of improvement in their standard of living is a concern for Northerners, especially those in the Northeast. While majorities of residents in all other regions say their standard of living is getting better, those in the Northeast are almost equally likely to say it is getting better as to say it remains the same.


Bottom Line
Considering Nigeria's human capital and natural resources, more contact with other parts of Africa, North America, Europe, and the rest of the world would likely help bring more prosperity to the country. Overall, the findings suggest Northerners, like most other Nigerians, would not welcome cutting off contact with Western countries. In fact, Northerners believe greater interaction with them would be a benefit.
It is also hard to see how Boko Haram can expect to garner public support when the group's attacks target the people they seek to rally around their cause. Support for establishing a state relying only on Islamic religious principles is relatively low, which is unsurprising considering Nigeria's complex legal heritage and ethno-religious diversity. At the same time, the Nigerian government must strive to develop comprehensive reforms to remedy people's economic grievances and provide more political transparency.
For complete data sets or custom research from the more than 150 countries Gallup continually surveys, please contact SocialandEconomicAnalysis@gallup.com or call 202.715.3030.

Survey Methods
Results are based on face-to-face interviews with 1,000 adults, aged 15 and older, conducted in April 2010 and in August 2011 in Nigeria. For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is ±3.9 percentage points. The margin of error reflects the influence of data weighting. In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.
For more complete methodology and specific survey dates, please review Gallup's Country Data Set details.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/152780/Northern-Nigerians-Views-Not-Line-Boko-Haram.aspx

Absolutely correct.
Don't mind the REETARDED, stark illiterates who think otherwise. 
Let those touts from Niger Repub. return to the caves or bushes if they do not want western exposure.
They should stop bathing or brushing their teeth for starters.
Personal hygiene is a western idea!

Hahahaha, the SE rating got me rolling on the floor.

Poll ko poll ni.

Very interesting. Thanks Haka nai

on post, . Gallup ko, dunlop ni! crazy fools!! tell them to suck the poll up their

Absolutely correct.
Don't mind the REETARDED, stark illiterates who think otherwise.
Let those touts from Niger Repub. return to the caves or bushes if they do not want western exposure.
They should stop bathing or brushing their teeth for starters.
Personal hygiene is a western idea!

Lasinoh, what state are you from? hold on. . . let me see, "personal hygiene is a western idea"!

Dudu_Negro:

on post,    .   Gallup ko, dunlop ni!  crazy fools!!  tell them to suck the poll up their 


  Lasinoh, what state are you from?   hold on. . . let me see,  "personal hygiene is a western idea"!   

Haba!
Western world!!!! Not wild, wild WESTERN Nigeria.
Let's not even go there.
We dey baff for Africa before oyinbo show us water from 'tap'?

Mutumin to ya ya ne? Kwana biyu?. . .

Dudu_Negro:

on post, . Gallup ko, dunlop ni! crazy fools!! tell them to suck the poll up their


Lasinoh, what state are you from? hold on. . . let me see, "personal hygiene is a western idea"!

Blazay . . .

Lasinoh:

Haba!
Western world!!!! Not wild, wild WESTERN Nigeria.
Let's not even go there.
We dey baff for Africa before oyinbo show us water from 'tap'?

yaya gida mallam, kana jin dadin zama? yaya yan mata n' naka? ina cewa kwana biyu ban gan ka ba ko kana kauye ne na cin duri da matsa nunu, ko kuma ba wutan lantarki a gari. lmao!


lasinoh, you go kill man pikin with laughter o! na black people teach oyibo how to bathe. go read slave stories, you go see how nasty dem be.

Alarji ina nan da wani sabon suna Osiris.211. Sai a hankali.

Alarji sai da cin duri. . . . . . . .sai a hankali

kai goga!! rotflmao!! kwarai, a yi a hankali kada ka zama mijin yawa. mijin hajiya doguwa, mijin hajiya karama. . . mijin ladi mai tuwo. . . Ore mi, na wa for you with your harem. ba lo di baba 'beji s'ile o!

Good to see my favorite awusa boys around for a change.

This guys are not just hausa but nasty!!! Call them funky hausa!!!

To a'i baa karya!! Sai da cin duri. . . . . Maye duniya in ba'a mata?

kai "ji sun" sai da hankali kar dai a bama yarinyan wani ciki dai? Kuma a kiyayi cutar kanjimur.

All this dirty talk

Ji_sun_pack you know me before ?

haka_nai:

kai "ji sun" sai da hankali kar dai a bama yarinyan wani ciki dai? Kuma a kiyayi cutar kanjimur.

lol

Alarji kar ka ji komai, ni sa'dauki ne. Karfin dawakai bakwai ne da ni. . . . .muna ci amma da kororon roba. Sai ni gagara badau na miji fiyeyyen dan kasuwa

Triple protection is needed.

haka_nai:

kai "ji sun" sai da hankali kar dai a bama yarinyan wani ciki dai? Kuma a kiyayi cutar kanjimur.

Alhaji Harem!!

Rhino.5dm=Rhino.4dm=Osiris.211=Ji_Sun_Pack

alj harem:

All this dirty talk

Ji_sun_pack you know me before ?
lol

Ji_sun_pack:

Alhaji Harem!!

Rhino.5dm=Rhino.4dm=Osiris.211=Ji_Sun_Pack

Hmmmm!!!! eku fun ara re

yaushe ka canza ji_sun_pack da osiris.211 Rhino chai, abeg free my iboalagidi bros o !!!

Lasinoh:

Good to see my favorite awusa boys around for a change.

Lasinoh Kina Lahiya, long time, what happened to your Okoro-Ngbatic boys nah? 

Akwai mai jin harshen turanci kusa? All these alhajis sef 

na copy

Interesting survey, so our Government has a 64% approval rating? Really?

Na wa o.