FEDERALISM AND THE PROBLEM OF MINORITY QUESTION 2007-2014
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FEDERALISM AND THE PROBLEM OF MINORITY QUESTION 2007-2014
CHAPITRE ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 THE STUDY’S BACKGROUND
Nigerian federalism is a British invention. Prior to the entrance of British colonialists, the territory now known as Nigeria was populated by peoples from several empires, kingdoms, and communities that were customarily administered.
The connection between these numerous entities was marked by a high level of friction and minimal cooperation. Furthermore, cannibalism, ritual murder, and the murder of twins were common among certain of the peoples (Adigwe, 1974).
With the coming of British and other European explorers, traders, and religious missionaries, these vices were moderated and eventually reduced to the bare minimum. After a series of pacification and conquest campaigns,
the Royal Niger Company’s charter was cancelled in that year, and the country was effectively occupied by the British. As a result, three distinct territories arose. These are Lagos, the Southern Protectorate of Nigeria, and the Northern Protectorate of Nigeria (Wikipedia, 2015).
Federalism is a form of government in which the governmental elements of a country are split between the central government and the component regions. It is also defined as a governance system in which governmental functions are shared by the federal government and its constituents (state and municipal governments) (Akpoto, 1995).
In general, federalism refers to the existence of two levels of government, each of which is constitutionally or legally empowered to make decisions independently of the other within the legislative realm given to it.
Sir Kenneth Wheare’s standard definition of a Federal Government is a system of government in which sovereignty is split between the federal and state governments.
He thus reasoned that in this system of governance, each level of authority should be limited to its own realm and independent of the others within that sphere. This governance system can thus be compared with a Unitary System, in which the constituent units are legally subject to the central government (Wheare, 1967).
This system of administration is better suited to civilizations with complex diversity, such as ethnic, linguistic, cultural, racial, religious, and so on, as well as other territorially defined cleavages. However, the nature of differences influences whether a country chooses aggregative or disaggregative federalism.
Because of its diversity, Nigeria falls into the latter category. There is a ballcanization of a formerly unitary state near collapse and its diversities that progress to a state under this type. Overcentralization has resulted in such unfavourable and obnoxious outcomes for ethnic minority states,
in particular, the erosion of the autonomy and security that genuinely federalist arrangements provide for minorities, the excessive appropriation by the centre of the resources of the oil-rich Delta minority communities, and the direct and often counter-productive intervention of central authorities in local and regional issues, such as the determination of lo
Fifty-one years after independence, Nigeria is still dealing with one of the fundamental consequences of federalism: the politics of appeasing all factions of the polity. This has become vital because individual success to national positions and resources are restricted. This is due to the society’s multi-ethnic makeup (Nwankwo, 20002).
According to Ola, numerous governments that have controlled this country have developed various techniques to deal with the ever-present issue of power distribution in both the political and economic arenas.
As a result, there have been accusations and counter-accusations from all sections of the polity over how powers are distributed or should be dispersed in order to avoid marginalisation of minority groups (Ola, 1995).
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Nigeria’s federal structure is regarded as “a bad marriage that all dislike but dare not leave, and there are possibilities that could disrupt the precarious equilibrium in Abuja” (Ogbe et al, 2011). Federalism is the primary intellectual and legal framework for Nigerian internal political geography.
A federal organisation was thought to be useful in building national unity from a plural society while still retaining the separate social identities valued by its constituent components. The Nigerian political system has continued to function with little cohesiveness (Ola, 1995).
Rivalry fueled by ethnic mutual suspicion and minority concerns is eroding the foundations of Nigerian sovereignty. The Nigerian Civil War is the result of this. It has also brought the nation-state into the volatile June 12 political issue, rendering Nigerian sovereignty feeble and unstable (Ojo, 1989).
Federalism is a system designed to combine people from varied ethnic, cultural, geographical, and religious backgrounds into a community. As a result, once a government is established, it must strive to allocate authorities, functions, and resources among these disparate groups in an adequate and equitable manner.
However, there have been instances in Nigeria where governments have blatantly broken federalism principles. Suffice it to state that, in principle, Nigeria has a federal form of government, although in practise, the country is moving towards a unitary one.
As a result, the problem with federalism in Nigeria is the misapplication or non-application of this clause, particularly when it comes to power allocation, which leads to minority concerns (Awa, 1977).
Power distribution is a volatile subject that, if not handled appropriately, could lead to a variety of crises that are unavoidable. Nigeria has not followed this idea to the letter,
resulting in increased ethnic tension, mutual mistrust among ethnic groups, a minority problem, a call for an answer to the National Question, and so on.
Ethnic conflict and minority difficulties in Nigeria are the outcome of an inefficient distribution of functions and resources. This is because people who now feel excluded from the larger picture perceive it as a requirement to rely on their ethnic groupings,
which will provide them with a suitable platform for competing for resources with others and opposing dominance by dominant ethnic groups. This can quickly escalate into open conflict between the two factions. This paper, on the other hand, will present an outline of Nigerian federalism while closely studying the subject of minority.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The following are the study’s objectives:
1. Give an overview of Nigerian federalism
2. To investigate the relationship between federalism and the minority problem.
3. To identify the elements in Nigeria that are working against true federalism.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. What exactly is federalism?
2. What is the relationship between federalism and the Nigerian minority problem?
3. What factors are working against true federalism in Nigeria?
1.5 HYPOTHESIS
HO: There is no major relationship between federalism and Nigeria’s minority problem.
HA: There is a substantial relationship between federalism and Nigeria’s minority problem.
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This study’s significance is classified into two categories: theoretical and practical.
At the theoretical level, it would expand our understanding of Nigerian Federalism and the minority dilemma. This research will serve as a resource base for other academics and researchers interested in conducting additional research in this sector, and if utilised, will go so far as to provide new explanations for the topic.
On a practical level, the study will assist our policymakers and those in power in seeing the negative impact of minority questions and ethnic marginalisation, and in a way make leaders see reasons or how effective the government at all levels can practise true federalism by involving all minority groups in the governance structure to ensure equity.
1.7 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
The scope of this study on federalism and the topic of minority question will address the ways and manner in which political powers are shared among ethnic groups between 2007 and 2014, as well as identify minority question issues that have previously led to a series of agitations in Nigeria.
1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Federalism is a system of government in a country, also known as a federation, in which political and socioeconomic powers are shared between the central government (referred to as the federal government) and the co-ordinate political sub-division of the country, referred to as region in Nigeria but now known as states and local government.
Minority: a smaller number or part, especially one that represents less than half of the total.
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