ABSTRACT
Thestudy revealthe Ethno Regional Politics in Nigeria betweentheperiods1960-1966, of which politicsatthedomesticlevelwasdetermined byethnicitybecausetheregionswerecarvedalongethniclines,theYorubaof theWest,theHausaoftheNorthandtheIgbooftheEast.Thisaccountedfor thepowertusslesamong thevariouspoliticalpartiesthatemergedimmediately afterindependence. Thestudyalsoshowedthat,despitethefactthatthepolitics ofNigeriaduring theperiodwasdrawnalong ethniclines. Nigeriapartypoliticshasbeenpollutedbyethnicchauvinism.This problem is one of the major qualms confrontingthe progress of liberal democracy inNigeriasince1960,totheextentthatethnicsentimenthas gradually creptintofindaplaceinevery facedofNigerianpoliticalactivity. Ethnic sentimenthasbeenoneofthe factorsresponsible for mostof the inefficienciesandlowproductivityinNigeria.Themajorfocusofthispaper istotracethehistoricalorigin,growthanddevelopmentofethnicity andthe effectsithashadonpost-colonialgovernance inNigeria.Inthe findingsof this paper, it was discovered that ethnic sentiment was deliberately introduced andpropagated in thepolitybytheBritish colonial government to realize colonialandimperialisteconomic andpoliticalobjectives.Itwasalso foundthatsince theendof colonialismin1960,Nigeria has carriedforward thespiritofethnicity intothepost-colonialNigeria;thisvicehasbeen discoveredtohave beenresponsible for mostof the political,administrative, economic,socialandculturalmaladiesinNigeria.Attheconcluding remark,itissuggestedthat,indigene-settle phenomenonshouldbestrong discouragedwhiletheFederalCharacter principles be genuinely implementedat the federal, state and local government levels in otherto removetheage longethnicunrest in the governanceofNigeria.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE i
CERTIFICATION ii
DEDICATION iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iv
ABSTRACT vii
TABLE OF CONTENTS viii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study 1
1.2 Aims and Objective of the study 5
1.3 Scope of the Study 6
1.4 Review of Literature 6
1.5 Methodology 14
1.6 Significance of the Study 14
CHAPTER TWO: CAUSES AND MANIFESTATION 16
2.1 Causes and Manifestation of Contemporary Ethno-nationalism 16
2.2 Pre-Independence Political Setting 26
2.3 National Head Count 1962/1963 28
2.4 Political parties in Historical Perspective 31
2.5 Ethnics Politics in Post-colonial Nigeria 1960-1966 38
2.6 Ethnicity and Party Organization 41
2.7 Conclusion 44
CHAPTER THREE: THE EFFECT OF ETHNICITY 45
3.1 The effects of Ethnicity on Post-colonial Governance in Nigeria45
3.2 Meaning and Characteristics of Nigeria Political System 49
3.3 Determinant of Political Party Formation and membership Composition 53
3.4 Multiplication of Parties in Nigeria 56
3.5 Conclusion 59
CHAPTER FOUR: ETHNO REGIONAL POLITICS AND THE NIGERIA STATE 61
4.1 Ethnic Politics and Foreign policy 61
4.2 Economy and Foreign Policy 66
4.3 Constitutional Basis for Revenue allocation in the First Republic71
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION 74
5.1 Summary 74
5.2 Conclusion 76
BIBLIOGRAPHY 78