ETHNICITY, ETHNOCENTRISM, PRIMORDIALISM AND STEREOTYPES IN NIGERIA'S NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT; PSYCHO-POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS

Abstract

Unfortunately, Nigeria has remained one of the most controversial plural societies in the world today. Pre and post-independence in 1960, the annals of Nigeria's history is replete with ethnic oriented disturbances. Ethnicity has now become a plague in Nigeria. Characterized by its ethnocentric chauvinism creating multiples of ethical crises. Many forces work together and continue to pose a threat to Nigeria's national development. The "one Nigeria" mantra has become nothing but a pure sarcasm, just as unity and peace in Nigeria appears dead. Ethnic politics and polarization along primordial cleavages is not new in Nigeria, but the dilemma is the momentum with which it is unfolding in the country now. Fairness, equity and meritocracy have been banished on the altar of faulty federalism. All these have bequeathed on the nation incongruous and inept leadership with myriads of negative implications. This study is apt to succinctly analyze this problem through the aid of Hobbesian theory of Natural Anarchy and Structural theories. Only when this is done can the problem be identified easily for better solutions.