The national question and Nigeria’s ethnic and identity crises

ABSTRACTThe study investigated the relationship between Nigeria’s national questions and ethnic identity crises. The study employed a qualitative approach as its method of data gathering and analysis with the adoption of secondary sources. It contended that Nigeria’s political history is riddled with conflicts and instability occasioned by the crisis of identity which has jeopardised the country’s national unity and political integration. The paper concluded that ethnicity as a major sentiment causes social and political quagmires which constitutes serous national questions and further negatively influences development in Nigeria. As a result, this conundrum not only affects Nigerian national integration but also the level of harmony, patriotism and loyalty to the legitimacy of the Nigerian state. The paper recommended that, to stem the tide of ethnicity crises, there is the need to demystify and deconstruct ethnicity, regionalism and promote, through dogged political mobilisation and sensitisation, a sense of belonging among the diverse groups that constitute the Nigerian state.KEYWORDS: Conflictsethnicityethno-nationalismmarginalisationpoliticsrestructuring Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Additional informationNotes on contributorsUtibe Monday TitusUtibe Monday Titus is a lecturer at Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria. He obtained his PhD in Political Science from the prestigious University, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Nigeria. His research interest focuses on Nigerian Government and Politics, Political Theory, Conflicts and Development Studies with an emphasizes on governance, conflicts, security and corruption. He has published with local and international journals. His recent publications include: Politicization of corruption: A driving force behind conflicts and development crises in Nigeria's Niger Delta, Climbing the Roof with the Right Ladder: Community Policing as an Antidote to Internal Security Crisis in Nigeria.Ilufoye Sarafa OgundiyaIlufoye Sarafa Ogundiya holds a PhD in Political Science from University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He was the editor of the Sokoto Journal of the Social Science and a Senior Research Fellow of French Institute for Research in Africa (IFRA). He has published widely in national and international journals. His research interests include Political Theory, Politics of Development and Conflict Studies. He is external examiner to several universities within and outside the country including University of Abuja and University of Kwazulu Natal, South Africa. He is currently a Professor at the Department of Political Science, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.