Ethnic Politics and Conflicts in Nigeria: Theoretical Perspective

According to Okwudiba Nnoli (2007) “Ethnicity is a social phenomenon associated with contact among ethnic groups that exist within the same political system. it is characterized by cultural prejudice and social discrimination.”Nigeria is confronted with problems which have resulted in the dramatic upsurge in ethnic conflicts which is a bye-product of ethnic nationalism and political demands based on ethnicity. From the colonial period to the return to civil politics since 1999 Nigeria has witnessed the resurgence of political demands along ethnic lines. The liberalization of the polity and the expansion of the political space appear to have provided additional fillip to these ethnic demands. Coming after decades of colonization by the British, military rule and military dictatorship, including the centralization of power and resources that accompanied it, groups and communities that hitherto felt excluded and marginalized are seeking to be accommodated.Ethnic politics has always been the major source of growing political tension in Nigeria which has resulted in periodic outbreaks of violence between different ethnic groups in the country. This scenario has been detrimental to national unity and socioeconomic development of the country.This paper seeks to examine ethnicity and ethnic conflict in Nigeria from colonial to post-colonial eras, and x-ray the injustice of ethnic politics in Nigeria. It also delves into a panoramic overview of ethnic politics in Nigeria since independence after a conceptual approach as presented by scholars on the concept. The paper also reviews some theoretical approaches to ethnicity and ethnic conflict.