The Problem Of Ethnicity In Nigeria

 
The Problem Of Ethnicity In Nigeria
NIGERIA is a federal constitutional republic comprising of 36states and its federal capital, Abuja. Nigeria as a nation is a constituent of several nationalities.
There are over 250 ethnic groups and the major ones are Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa. It is however very disturbing that Nigerians have become slaves to their ethnic origins instead of harnessing these diversities towards national development. Nigerians are fanatics when it comes to ethnicity. It is therefore not surprising for a Nigerian to get angry because he/she is wrongly associated with another tribe. This is not the true reflection of a federal nation. “One of the sociological problems hindering the growth of the nation is an multi-ethnicity”.

In addition, before the coming of the white man, the various ethnic groups were inter- dependent but they did not constitute themselves into one society. It was in 1914 that they were amalgamated. Nigeria is a British creation by uniting the various entities into a single country called the federal republic of Nigeria. Some Nigerians are of the view that ‘’Nigeria is a forced marriage which did not receive the approval of the couples involved’’

Furthermore, whatever is done in Nigeria always has an ethnic undertone be It, politics, employment and provision of social amenities. Tribal affiliations are always very strong and visible. Over the years, since independence there have been cases of ethnic violence resulting from allegiance to one’s ethnic group and this has not worked well for the development of the country. It is very common in Nigeria for an ‘’Igbo landlord’’ to turn down a would-be tenant simply because he is ‘’Hausa’’.

The problem president Jonathan is presently facing within and outside his party, is ethnicity otherwise known as zoning. Most northern elites have said times without number that it is the time of the north to govern the affairs of the country. When politicians lose elections, or are in one political crisis or the other, they tend to devise strategies which will appeal to their people. For example, the recent statement made by a former Niger Delta militant, Asari Dokubo, who has threatened fire and brimstone if Jonathan loses the 2015 elections.

Political parties in the pre-independence era, were based on ethnic factors. The Action Group was established from a Yoruba cultural association, Egbe Omo Oduduwa, the NCNC from an Igbo group and the NPC from Jamiyyar Arewa. The Action Group was led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the NCNC by Nnamdi Azikiwe, the NPC by Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto. Ethnicity played a major role in the politics of Nigeria. Party politics was based on ethnic factors. Even in the present day politics, there are still traces of tribalism in the political parties.
Parties like APGA is regarded as an Igbo party, ACN as a re-incarnation of the Action Group, CPC is seen as a party of the Hausa Fulanis. Only the PDP has a national outlook.

Since independence, there has been the struggle for superiority and recognition among the various ethnic groups and this is what led to the Nigerian civil war from 1967-70. The war was fought between Igbo Biafrans and the federal government, mostly dominated by Hausas and headed by General Yakubu Gowon. Today in Nigeria, there is serious rivalry among these tribes such as political and religious rivalry.

However, despite all these, there are issues which point to the fact that ethnicity is not the problem in Nigeria but Nigerians themselves who choose to abuse ethnicity for their own tribal interest. There is nothing wrong with ethnicity. It can make and create avenues for healthy competitions in economic development. The period after independence saw a healthy competition between the major tribes in Nigeria. South-west led in cocoa production, groundnuts and cereals in the north while palm products and root crops dominated the economy of the south-east.

Attachment to a citizen first to his/her ethnic group before the country is bad for the nation’s unity. If Nigerians learn to value nationalism more than ethnicity, there will be an increase in economic and political development and Nigeria will reclaim its rightful position in the world.