However, this years elections did not precipitate any significant ethnic or religious. Until now, the analysis made in this paper has been guided by the medicodiagnostic method of inquiry, an analytical approach that seeks to avoid one of the commonly committed fallacies of the century jumping to a conclusion or making a hasty decision. Federalism, mode of political organization that unites separate states or other polities within an overarching political system in a way that allows each to maintain its own integrity. May 02, 2014 roots of igboyoruba conflict in nigerian politics. Nigeria has not been without its fair share of conflict.
Religion and conflict in nigeria united states institute of peace. The attempt to break away ultimately failed, and nigeria reintegrated the igbo majority region in 1970. The roots of nigerias religious and ethnic conflict public. Nigeria also has probably the most elaborate system of government in the region. Roots of igboyoruba conflict in nigerian politics vanguard. Ethnoreligious conflicts and democracy in nigeria dr.
The key causes and solution to ethnic conflict in nigeria. Nov 10, 2012 this may be ethnic and does not preclude identification with a polity or national group within the polity. Jan 30, 2012 view conflict in nigeria in a larger map. It was in the context of the dynamic logic of this administrative federalism that the emergent nigerian political class, influenced by the indian federal experiment. Furthermore, most of the literature agrees on the operationalization of ethnic conflict into a simple dichotomous variable. Suberus federalism and ethnic conflict in nigeria adds a new high score to this list.
Federalism and ethnic conflict in nigeria rotimi suberu. Commodity prices, conflict, early life, ethnicity, nigeria. The problem i want to examine is how to characterize the relationship between ethnicity and federalism in nigeria. He explores the evolution of nigerian federalism through its various constitutional experiments and administrative redesigns, including those in. Pdf nigeria is a multiethnic and culturally diverse society that has witnessed. Ethnicity is generally regarded as the most basic and politically salient identity in nigeria. This article examines the framing of ethnic conflict in northeast india, focusing on militant groups and insurgency in the hill areas of assam and a form of political violence known locally. In fact, no decade of postindependent nigeria has been conflict free. Pdf developing country studies managing ethnic and cultural. Over the past few years thousands of people have been killed in ethnic clashes. Nigeria has witnessed many conflicts revolving around political, economic, religious and ethnic motives and after independence in i960.
Communal conflicts in nigeria can be divided into two broad categories. In this analysis, two interdisciplinary methods have been chosen to understand the dynamics of ethnic conflicts in nigeria and south africa. Nigeria is said to be a british creation by uniting the various nationalities into a single country today known as the federal republic of nigeria. Causes and effects of conflict on nigerias development. The image to the right shows a nigerian army member forcing down a man protesting a christian prayer services in. Conflict management in nigerian construction industry. This instructive study helps explain why it lacks a stable political framework for federalism and ethnic conflict in nigeria foreign affairs. Aug 30, 2005 the national question in nigeria is probably one of the most complicated in the world with over 120 languages spoken, three main ethnic groups, none of which constitutes a majority of the population, and the religious divide between christians in the south and muslims in the north. In depth information materials gathered from informants were utilised to examine the scene of ethnic conflict in nigeria. Federalism and ethnic conflict in nigeria foreign affairs. A symposium on religious conflict in nigeria may 8, 2007 nigeria is the largest country in the world with an evenly split population of christians. Colonial masters play a vital role in the growth of ethno religious conflicts, these colonial masters brought the christianity with them and try to penetrate the western values in the system of nigeria. Ethnic groups and conflicts ethnic group means different things to different people. Abstract conflicts of various kinds in nigeria have often been attributed to ethnicity.
Mueller aphuge class e 2 15 ethnic conflict in nigeria molly autery, amanda how we see the conflict what form does the conflict take. The patrimonial state and interethnic conflicts in nigeria. The first point to be noted is that the appearance of ethnic conflict in nigerian national politics especially as it relates to the igbo and the. In this compelling new work, suberu examines the profound political contradictions that make up nigeria, a nation whose leaders have constantly tinkered with a colonial federal legacy that sought to balance the countrys three major ethnic groups. Ethnic conflict and federalism in nigeria agecon search. Ethnic conflicts are very common and they bring about damage to lives and properties. Yet the country teeters perilously close to massive civil upheaval. Just as we have many authors, so we have several definitions of the concept. A brief examination of the composition of ethnic groups in nigeria reveals that nigeria has on record about 56 ethnic groups, identified by iwaloye and ibeanu 1997 as follows. Learn more about the history and characteristics of federalism in this article. The roots of nigerias religious and ethnic conflict public radio. It was found that a number of violent events that had occurred in nigeria was. Project managers view olalekan ogunbayo department of building technology, lagos state polytechnic, ikorodu, lagos state. Manifestation, effect and the aw y forardw nwaomah, s.
Article pdf available november 2015 with 829 reads how we measure reads. Religious conflicts in nigeria world socialist web site. Different administrative traditions were especially evident in the northern and southern regions of nigeria. This paper is a new attempt to relook the significance and relevance of true federalism in nigeria. Ethnoreligious conflicts, attributed to actors primarily divided by cultural, ethnic, or religious. A british colonial decision brought the northern and southern halves of modern nigeria together. These traditions produced regional rivalry and conflict that were entrenched.
It is believed that a comparison of patterns of ethnic conflict management may offer a better understanding of the complexities and available mechanisms to ensure ethnic harmony and peace. An evaluation of the causes and efforts adopted in managing the ethnic conflicts, identity and settlement pattern among the different ethnic groups in warri, delta state, nigeria agbegbedia oghenevwoke anthony peace and conflict studies unit, afe babalola university, adoekiti, ekiti state, nigeria. Causes and solution nigerians are very sensitive when it comes to their ethnic groups. Federalism and ethnic conflict in nigeria united states. Professor of biblical studies mission and religion and society babcock university, ilishanremo, ogun state, nigeria email. As at 1999, nigeria has about 56 ethnic groups on record. The challenge of ethnic conflict central intelligence agency. Abstractmost developing countries are ethnically diverse.
At a global scale, the conflict presents itself in a way where there is a large economic impact. Ethno religious conflicts, attributed to actors primarily divided by cultural, ethnic, or religious. Igbohausa feud that began after the military coup and countercoup of 1966, culminating in the civil war in 1967, efikibibio conflict, tivjukun debacle, fulanibirom clashes, and itsekiriurhoboijaw conflict in the niger delta. The two faces of education in ethnic conflict unicef office of. With several coups, general strikes and a civil war, nigerians have had to experience some of the most sordid tragedies arising from difference of opinions and distrust. Ethnoreligious conflicts, attributed to actors primarily divided by cultural, ethnic, or religious communities and identities, such as instances of religious violence between christian and muslim communities. To call it a diversified society would not be wrong, a society with different religions, cultures, and languages. Nigeria is tropical africas most important country, with an estimated 110 million people and major oil resources. Citizenship in nigeria is a combination of the legal and psychological dimensions described above.
This study is a courageous effort at isolating and discussing the issues that shape nigerian politics. The origins of nigerias federalism lie not in the pluralities of economic and geographic regions or of ethnic nationalities, but in the plurality of colonial administrative traditions imposed by the british. The paper relying heavily on content analysis, explored the concepts of conflict and development. Ethnic conflict in nigeria by molly autery on prezi. These conflicts have had enormous consequences in the development of nigeria. Closely examining the relationship between religion, ethnicity and conflict in. The variable measures simply if there is an ethnic conflict in a given state or not. Ntroduction nigeria presents a complex of individual as well as a conflation and recursive identities of which the ethnic, religious, regional and sub ethnic communal are the most salient and the main bases for violent conflicts in the country. Federalism and ethnic conflict in nigeria suberu, rotimi, diamond, larry on. The issue of ethnic conflict in nigeria has become a burning national issue with its attendant problems. Mar 10, 2014 the roots of nigeria s religious and ethnic conflict. Oil rents and their distribution have shaped the operation of nigeria s federal system and have also contributed largely to the failure of federalism in nigeria. Ethnocentrism and ethnopolitical conflicts in northern.
Religious conflicts in nigeria by barry mason and chris talbot 28 february 2000 violent religious clashes broke out in the city of kaduna in northern nigeria on february 21 and have continued. Ethnicity, religion, ethnoreligious conflict, integration, good governance. To understand the character and intensity of ethnic political conflict in northern nigeria, we must situate it within the broader historical context of nigeria before and after independence. At no time has the issue of political structure andor restructuring been more contentious in nigerias political history. Causes of nigeria unrest and conflict situation proceedings of theires 3rd international conference, dubai, uae, 4th july 2015, isbn. Cultural concepts of political legitimacy, the rule of law and rights to land, differ markedly, resulting in a pluralistic state with few shared values. Nigeria has been pushed hither and thither by recurrent crises of regional or state. Pdf control over natural resource revenues is a contentious, politically divisive issue in most developing countriesespecially for oil production. Nigeria s history of revenue distribution is about each ethnic group or geopolitical region seeking to maximise its share of national resources. An average nigerian often sees his own tribe as being superior to others. Rather ethnicityidentity is increasingly mobilized and politicized in con temporary violent conflicts bush, 1997. I want to illustrate how the dynamics of ethnicity, by which i mean its manipulation as a political resource of conflict and accommodation by the political elite, has shaped the development of federalism in the country. Theoretical perspective 79 languages, customs and traditions gives the country a rich cultural diversity.
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