ETHNIC MILITIA AND NATIONAL INTEGRATION IN NIGERIA

Code No: 491464

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ABSTRACT

This research is on the issue of Ethnic Militia and National Integration in Nigeria with the activities of the movement for the actualization of the sovereign state of Biafra as a study case. The issues of ethnic Militancy and National Integration have become subject of recurring decimal since Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999. Prior to this period, successful administrations had battled with the implementation of various programmes intended to resolve the associated issues fuelling ethnicity and identity crisis that has been threatening the countryâ€™s unity and national integration since independence. Government at the centre on various occasions embarked on programmes as well as formulated different policies towards resolving these contending issues which were to no avail in realization of such leading to the formation of various ethnic militias by contending groups whose activities exacerbated identity crisis, ethnic diversity which in all continuous to threaten the needed unity and national integration. Relying on both secondary and primary sources of data and the relative deprivation theoretical framework, the work found out amongst others that conflict can be used to express the feeling of marginalization in the society. More so, there is indication that marginalization of some ethnic groups who are part of the existing state arrangement coupled with the division of the nation along ethnic lines cannot ensure national integration and development needed in Nigeria. Based on the above finding, the work recommends amongst others that the Nigerian government should set up a high-level Peace and Reconciliation Commission to engage with pro-Biafra groups with a view to devising an effective approach to the resolution of the agitation for Biafra. The commission should also undertake consultations with state governments and other relevant stake holders with a view to encouraging them to buy into the peace initiative and identify the specific role they would play in the reconciliation process.

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Nigeria, a sovereign state with multi-ethnic groups was amalgamated in 1914 by Fredrick Lugard, the then Governor-General of the Federation. Prior to this period, each ethnic group was administered by traditional rulers with basic provision for the existence of effective organs of government in formulation and execution of government policies which the people freely embraced. According to Anifoweshe (2000), the pre-colonial riles in Nigeria promoted strong government that prevented ethnicity and identity crisis among different ethnic groups that made up the amalgamated state. The 1914 amalgamation however signalled eventual introduction of indirect rule system of administration which to some extent promoted unity and national integration among the nationalists of different ethnic groups of the amalgamated protectorates.
Furthermore, the spirit of brotherhood among pre independent nationalist leaders eventually led to successful independence of Nigeria in 1960 with commencement of the first republic which also promoted the needed unity and national integration in Nigeria until 1966 when both the military coup and the Igbo massacre led to the collapse of national unity and marginalization of some ethnic groups in socio, political and economic distribution by the ruling elite despite Gen. Gowonâ€™s declaration of 3Rs and â€œno victorâ€ and â€œno vanquishedâ€ policies of government shortly after the civil war. The effects of non committed implementation of the policies in Nigeria is the cause of insecurity, ethnicity and the national identity crisis that resulted to the formation of various ethnic militias that is today threatening unity and national integration in Nigeria Anifowoshe (2000). Since 1999 when the country returned to democratic governance, the scenario of the ethnic militia and insurgency has become tragic, spanning from the North, East and South. The emergence of various ethnic groupings clamouring for equity in the sharing of national resources had been attributed to the feeling of marginalization which the groups believe had been going for years without being addressed. This is especially so, in the Niger Delta region, where most of the oil resources of the country are located and the various nationalities within the region feel they had been short changed in the distributional resources which resulted to the formation of different ethnic militias in the Niger Delta area.