Ethnic Nationalism as a Threat to Sustainable Development in Nigeria: A Discourse

Authors

  • M. O Ibitoye

Abstract

Several years after Nigeria’s independence from Britain, precisely in 1960, the political entity called Nigeria has barely survived in terms of consolidating its political structures, institutions and the like, for the overall growth, development and sustainability of the nation-state as a result of the problem of ethnicity among other factors. Therefore, ethnicity has become a major factor that could determine who get what, when and how. Political appointments and composition of the top level positions still show that certain geo-political zone(s) are not fully integrated into national life and this is an attestation to the fact that ‘all animals are equal but some are more equal than others’ in Nigeria. Hence, the apparent ‘cold and bitter’ relationship which have been mounting and increasingly intensify in greater magnitude as the years unfold. It is against this background that this study specifically addressed the issue of ethnic nationalism as it affects sustainable development in Nigeria. Being a theoretical paper, the methodology employed was secondary data and content analysis research methodology. The study revealed that ethnic nationalism was induced by certain factors such as; colonial experience, primordial loyalty, marginalization, struggle over public offices and national resources, among others. The study, therefore recommends strict adherence to the constitution, true federalism, Sovereign National Conference, ethical revolution, good governance and so on.

Keywords: Ethnicity, Ethnic Politics, Nationalism and Sustainable Development

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Published

2020-08-12

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Articles