Ethnic jingoists masquerading as nationalists proceed to poison the political area and are threatening the nation’s very existence
By Clifford Ndujihe, Politics Editor
At independence in 1960, Nigerians dreamed of a nation the place the various and quite a few ethnic nationalities can be bonded into a robust and highly effective unit. The catch phrase was ‘unity in range.’ Right this moment, that dream lies in tatters, shredded by ethnic fault strains, distrust, suspicion, scapegoating, and political tribalism.
For nationalists like Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Ahmadu Bello, and Chief Obafemi Awolowo, ethnicity was an undercurrent, not a cudgel. Leaders differed, but maintained a fragile consensus. Political identities as soon as revolved round ideology not origin. That period now looks like an historical incidence.
At first
Earlier than independence, Lagos was a political melting pot. Non-natives like Dr. Azikiwe held sway within the metropolis. Politics was formed extra by coverage and efficiency not ethnicity, and Nigeria appeared headed in the appropriate course.
It was the period when Chief Awolowo backed Ernest Ikoli, an Ijaw, to beat Samuel Akinsanya, a Yoruba supported by Dr Azikiwe within the 1938 legislative council election in Lagos. It was the interval that Mallam Igwe Iweka, an Igbo received an election into the Northern Home of Meeting. Within the Nineteen Fifties, Umaru Altine, a Fulani Muslim from Sokoto, was twice elected Mayor of Enugu, a predominantly Igbo metropolis. He wasn’t an area however he received and was re-elected and he served with distinction. It was a robust sign that competence might override tribe or faith. And Professor Eyo Ita, an Efik from Cross River was the pinnacle of presidency enterprise within the Japanese Area with headquarters in Enugu between 1951 and Might 1953.
Origins of ethnic politics
The Western Area disaster of the Nineteen Fifties, arguably, marks the start of ethnic politics in Nigeria. Within the 1951 Western Home of Meeting elections, the Nationwide Council of Nigerian Residents, NCNC, led by Dr. Azikiwe, an Igbo, had gained a foothold with 43 seats in comparison with 37 seats received by the Chief Awolowo-led Motion Group, AG. Each Azikiwe and Awolowo received seats. Whereas Azikiwe received from Lagos, Awolowo from Ogun.
Given the prevailing parliamentary system of presidency, the NCNC, upon inauguration of the Home, was to type the federal government whereas the AG would function opposition.
Nevertheless, a day or two after the election, the AG lobbied some Yoruba members of the NCNC and different members-elect. On inauguration day, earlier than officers launched into the train, 20 NCNC members and 6 others from the Ibadan Peoples Celebration, IPP cross-carpetied to the AG, taking pictures its members to 57 whereas NCNC’s depleted to 23. Until date, that occasion, surreptitiously engaged with sartorial flamboyance in Ankara group dressing in solidarity, handed the AG a majority, which made it to type the cupboard with Chief Awolowo as premier whereas Dr Azikiwe grew to become the chief of opposition in Western Area.
Uncomfortable with the association, Dr Azikiwe returned to the East in 1952 the place Eyo was head of presidency enterprise, an equal of premier. The NCNC-dominated Japanese Meeting tried to accommodate Azikiwe and requested ministers to resign. Resistance to the order triggered a disaster, and the Governor dissolved the Meeting.
A brand new election was held and Azikiwe received a seat for Onitsha and have become a chief minister. He was to change into premier in 1954. The transfer upstaged Eyo Ita, inflicting misgivings amongst japanese minorities. Ever since, ethnicisation of politics has been gathering momentum within the nation, and getting worse over time.
The Sixties ushered in turbulence. The Western Area disaster of 1962, the 1966 coups, and the Biafran Warfare (1967–70) left deep ethnic wounds. Nigeria more and more appeared much less like a nation and extra like warring nationalities.
Army regimes, claiming neutrality, usually deepened ethnic distrust. Favouritism in appointments and useful resource management entrenched resentment. When democracy returned in 1999, the divisions remained intact and festered regardless of claims and pretensions.
In April 2015, the temperature flared once more. Oba Rilwan Akiolu, the Oba of Lagos, talking forward of the governorship polls, allegedly threatened to “throw Igbo into the lagoon” in the event that they didn’t assist his most popular candidate. Although later dismissed as banter, the injury lingered, deepening ethnic suspicions.
2015 vital flip
The 2015 election marked a vital flip. President Muhammadu Buhari’s emergence, backed by northern and southwestern blocs, was seen in components of the South-East and South-South as marginalisation by the core North and South-West axis.
Critics of the Buhari administration decried perceived nepotism – northern Muslims dominated key safety and government positions. Ethnic temperature spiked. Separatist teams just like the Indigenous Individuals of Biafra, IPOB, gained traction. Requires restructuring and self-determination echoed louder from the Center-Belt to the Niger Delta however nothing ready Nigeria for what 2023 would unleash.
Ethnic fault strains absolutely uncovered
The 2023 normal elections laid naked a harmful actuality: Nigerian politics is now extremely ethnicised, threatening nationwide cohesion and improvement.
The 2023 presidential election noticed a significant third pressure – Peter Obi of the Labour Celebration, LP problem the 2 political giants, All Progressives Congress, APC, and Peoples Democratic Celebration, PDP. Obi, an Igbo Christian, rode on a wave of youthful, city, tech-savvy assist. His candidacy was seen as a daring break from the outdated order.
Senator Bola Tinubu, Yoruba Muslim and APC stalwart, was backed by entrenched political constructions within the South-West, and components of the North, particularly North-West.
What ought to have been a battle of concepts shortly degenerated into an ethnic mud struggle. Obi’s supporters had been smeared as “IPOB,” “tribalists,” and “Biafrans”. Tinubu’s base was accused of Yoruba irredentism and voter suppression. Although there have been voices of purpose amongst tribal leaders who stood with opposing candidates, they had been shortly labeled as betrayers of widespread bond.
The Lagos governorship election that adopted grew to become a keg of gun powder widening deep-seated ethnic tensions between the Igbo and Yoruba. Election day introduced reviews of voter intimidation, focused violence, and hate speech. The phantasm of Lagos as a mannequin of nationwide unity cracked.
On-line, the divide was much more poisonous. The slurs had been disgraceful as Obi’s followers had been described as “Obidiots” and, and Tinubu’s referred to as “Jagabandits”. They hurled accusations of tribalism, betrayal, and revisionist historical past.
Method ahead
Ethnic politics is an existential risk. In a nation of over 250 ethnic teams, sustained tribal competitors will result in state failure as a result of it erodes meritocracy, fuels corruption, and discredits nationwide establishments. When appointments, contracts, and alternatives are tied to ethnicity as an alternative of competence, failure turns into systemic.
Extra dangerously, it alienates giant segments of the inhabitants. When “it’s our flip” replaces “what’s greatest for all,” resentment festers. Unity turns into transactional as an alternative of natural.
The nation should start to de-emphasise ethnic identification and re-emphasise inclusivity, competence, and justice.
True federalism, energy rotation, and constitutional safeguards may help. However structural fixes aren’t sufficient. A cultural shift is significant.
Political events should change into really nationwide not ethnic enclaves. The media should cease amplifying ethnic narratives. Civil society should lead a brand new dialog. Spiritual and conventional leaders should preach inclusion not division.
Extra importantly, younger Nigerians should reject the ethnic bait. The promise of a united Nigeria lies not in zoning or “turn-by-turn” politics however in shared prosperity, equal alternative, and mutual respect.
With the ethnic bitterness spewed by the 2023 polls, Nigeria now stands at a crossroads: proceed down the trail of ethnic balkanisation or return to the imaginative and prescient of unity in range that birthed independence. The trail Nigerians will take might be seen with time.
It’s a disgrace that at 65, quite than exorcise the ghost of ethnic politics, some irresponsible politicians are baying for blood with their actions and unguarded utterances.
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