Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi

Politics of Ethnic Domination and The Challenge of National Integration in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic

ROSENJE, Musharafa Olapeju (PhD), SALAMI, Nofiu Olamikulehin & ADENIYI, Oluwatobi Peter

Abstract

This paper, examined the impact of ethnic domination politics on national integration in Nigeria. The study adopted desk review method, primarily utilised secondary sources of data and adopted ethnic domination theory as framework of analysis. The paper revealed that the foundation of ethnic domination politics was laid by the British colonialists with different ethnic groups enjoying varying degrees of power and privilege through their divide and rule policy. It also disclosed that the ethnic domination in Nigeria has led to increased insecurity, violence, and riots, displacement and exacerbated ethnic and religious tensions. The study concluded that national integration in Nigeria has not been made possible in spite of efforts of stakeholders. However, peaceful coexistence can be achieved in Nigeria through good governance, fight against corruption, generational re-orientation and re-birth. The paper recommended that Nigeria should adopt consociationalism, a system that promotes equal power-sharing and protection of diverse ethnic, religious, or linguistic groups. This approach encourages cooperation, consensus-based decision-making than on majority rule, and fair distribution of national resources and official positions, irrespective of numerical strength, ethnic and religious inclination.

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