Ethnicity, Conflict and Instability: Nigeria’s First Republic perspective

Abstract

Most of the conflicts which lead to violence and extensive destruction of lives and property, (especially in the first republic 1960-1966) in many parts of the country, can without exaggeration, be attributed to ethnic factors among other things. Ethnic nationalism in Nigeria therefore, had had far-reaching effect on the Nigerian body polity. It resulted in a series of conflicts and instabilities that has bedevilled Nigerians democratic experience since independence. There was escalating inter-ethnic polities of vandalism, cut-throat politics, lack of spirit of give and take, politics of winner takes it all, politics of rancour or acrimony perennial wrangling, antagonism, suspicion among different ethnic groups, accusations and counter-accusations, dog-eat-dog economy, discrimination, among other evils. It is on this background that this work examined the historical antecedent of ethnicity in Nigeria. The paper also highlights the instances of conflict and instability in Nigeria. The study also examined the ills of such conflicts and instabilities in Nigeria and finally, the conclusion. This paper is historical; hence, it adopts a qualitative method of analysis. Useful piece of information were obtained from important relevant documents, reports and array of secondary sources.