FEDERALISM, INSECURITY, AND THE PERSISTENT AGITATIONS AMONG ETHNIC GROUPS IN NIGERIA’S FOURTH REPUBLIC: ANY WAY FORWARD?

The paper examined rationales behind persistent agitations among ethnic groups in Nigerian federalism leading to various degrees of insecurity situations. Federalism have been largely accepted as the better form of government in a heterogeneous society such as Nigeria, however, the kind of federal...

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Main Authors: TEMITOPE EMMANUEL ABIODUN, IBRAHIM ADEDAYO OYEWOLE, ENOCH AKINLOLUWA MAKINDE
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Federal University Wukari 2024-12-01
Series:International Studies Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://wissjournals.com.ng/index.php/wiss/article/view/520
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author TEMITOPE EMMANUEL ABIODUN
IBRAHIM ADEDAYO OYEWOLE
ENOCH AKINLOLUWA MAKINDE
author_facet TEMITOPE EMMANUEL ABIODUN
IBRAHIM ADEDAYO OYEWOLE
ENOCH AKINLOLUWA MAKINDE
author_sort TEMITOPE EMMANUEL ABIODUN
collection DOAJ
description The paper examined rationales behind persistent agitations among ethnic groups in Nigerian federalism leading to various degrees of insecurity situations. Federalism have been largely accepted as the better form of government in a heterogeneous society such as Nigeria, however, the kind of federal system operating in Nigeria has created many problems because diverse ethnic and religious groups are unceremoniously brought together under one umbrella. The paper made used of qualitative approach and adopted group and frustration-aggression theories as its theoretical framework. Data were obtained through official publications, journals, textbooks, newspapers and reports. Findings revealed that the current pseudo-federal setup in Nigeria is indeed a major contributory factor to persistent ethnic agitations which have led to diverse insecurity cases in the fourth republic. Colonial policy and legacy further put Nigeria in a precarious position with ethnic groups suspecting one another, thus, making unity in diversity a herculean task. Also, the imperfections in the military bequeathed constitution which concentrated power on a particular tier of government and making resource control by the subordinating units difficult. The paper recommended among others a rejig of 1999 constitution to accommodate all ethnic groups and proper arrangement of political positions in the country. The need for dialoguing as a means of carrying ethnic groups (especially the minorities) along with a view of critically addressing issues that is germane to them. To ameliorate tensions that bring about agitations in Nigerian federalism, equality and justice in power and resource allocation among ethnic groups must be prioritised.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2756-4649
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publishDate 2024-12-01
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spelling doaj-art-8f1163df36c4403e9a0e3923b2a57f112025-02-10T09:59:53ZengFederal University WukariInternational Studies Journal2756-46492024-12-0188FEDERALISM, INSECURITY, AND THE PERSISTENT AGITATIONS AMONG ETHNIC GROUPS IN NIGERIA’S FOURTH REPUBLIC: ANY WAY FORWARD?TEMITOPE EMMANUEL ABIODUN0IBRAHIM ADEDAYO OYEWOLE1ENOCH AKINLOLUWA MAKINDE2DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, SIKIRU ADETONA COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, OMU-AJOSE, OGUN STATEDEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, SIKIRU ADETONA COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, OMU-AJOSE, OGUN STATEDEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, SIKIRU ADETONA COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, OMU-AJOSE, OGUN STATE The paper examined rationales behind persistent agitations among ethnic groups in Nigerian federalism leading to various degrees of insecurity situations. Federalism have been largely accepted as the better form of government in a heterogeneous society such as Nigeria, however, the kind of federal system operating in Nigeria has created many problems because diverse ethnic and religious groups are unceremoniously brought together under one umbrella. The paper made used of qualitative approach and adopted group and frustration-aggression theories as its theoretical framework. Data were obtained through official publications, journals, textbooks, newspapers and reports. Findings revealed that the current pseudo-federal setup in Nigeria is indeed a major contributory factor to persistent ethnic agitations which have led to diverse insecurity cases in the fourth republic. Colonial policy and legacy further put Nigeria in a precarious position with ethnic groups suspecting one another, thus, making unity in diversity a herculean task. Also, the imperfections in the military bequeathed constitution which concentrated power on a particular tier of government and making resource control by the subordinating units difficult. The paper recommended among others a rejig of 1999 constitution to accommodate all ethnic groups and proper arrangement of political positions in the country. The need for dialoguing as a means of carrying ethnic groups (especially the minorities) along with a view of critically addressing issues that is germane to them. To ameliorate tensions that bring about agitations in Nigerian federalism, equality and justice in power and resource allocation among ethnic groups must be prioritised. https://wissjournals.com.ng/index.php/wiss/article/view/520ethnicityfederalisminsecurityNigeria
spellingShingle TEMITOPE EMMANUEL ABIODUN
IBRAHIM ADEDAYO OYEWOLE
ENOCH AKINLOLUWA MAKINDE
FEDERALISM, INSECURITY, AND THE PERSISTENT AGITATIONS AMONG ETHNIC GROUPS IN NIGERIA’S FOURTH REPUBLIC: ANY WAY FORWARD?
International Studies Journal
ethnicity
federalism
insecurity
Nigeria
title FEDERALISM, INSECURITY, AND THE PERSISTENT AGITATIONS AMONG ETHNIC GROUPS IN NIGERIA’S FOURTH REPUBLIC: ANY WAY FORWARD?
title_full FEDERALISM, INSECURITY, AND THE PERSISTENT AGITATIONS AMONG ETHNIC GROUPS IN NIGERIA’S FOURTH REPUBLIC: ANY WAY FORWARD?
title_fullStr FEDERALISM, INSECURITY, AND THE PERSISTENT AGITATIONS AMONG ETHNIC GROUPS IN NIGERIA’S FOURTH REPUBLIC: ANY WAY FORWARD?
title_full_unstemmed FEDERALISM, INSECURITY, AND THE PERSISTENT AGITATIONS AMONG ETHNIC GROUPS IN NIGERIA’S FOURTH REPUBLIC: ANY WAY FORWARD?
title_short FEDERALISM, INSECURITY, AND THE PERSISTENT AGITATIONS AMONG ETHNIC GROUPS IN NIGERIA’S FOURTH REPUBLIC: ANY WAY FORWARD?
title_sort federalism insecurity and the persistent agitations among ethnic groups in nigeria s fourth republic any way forward
topic ethnicity
federalism
insecurity
Nigeria
url https://wissjournals.com.ng/index.php/wiss/article/view/520
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AT ibrahimadedayooyewole federalisminsecurityandthepersistentagitationsamongethnicgroupsinnigeriasfourthrepublicanywayforward
AT enochakinloluwamakinde federalisminsecurityandthepersistentagitationsamongethnicgroupsinnigeriasfourthrepublicanywayforward