Ethnic ‘nationalities’, God &amp; the state: Whither the federal republic of Nigeria?

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Review of African Political Economy

Volume 27, Issue 85

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Ethnic ‘nationalities’, God & the state: Whither the federal republic of Nigeria?

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Author(s): Caroline Ifeka

Publication date (Print): September 2000

Journal: Review of African Political Economy

Publisher: Review of African Political Economy

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Abstract

There is a continuing contradiction between the state as the corporate representation of Nigerian society and sectional (ethno‐religious) interests struggling to counter perceived margin‐alisation by revenue ‘sharing’ among patrons and clients (Joseph, 1987). Power elites in command of the centre identify with the state and proclaim its indivisible ‘unitary’ character; poly‐ethnic labour activists believe in the Federal Republic but criticise their exclusion from state power by a mege‐rich elite (Ojewale, 2000). Other (southern) leaders are so dissatisfied with the unitary Nigerian state that they are campaigning for a confederation of ethnic ‘nationalities’ or secession into independent republics. As well, certain northern leaders are emphasising the Islamic identity of the Hausa‐Fulani ‘nationality’ by substituting Shari'a law for the criminal code so some people believe core northern states are engaging in covert religio‐legal secession (Soyinka, 2000).

The state and ethno‐religious sectionalism thus continue to interact, power elite networking and patronage ensuring that each party to the contradiction reproduces politically unitary and divisive forces in changing constellations, rendering uncertain indeed the outcome of present empowerment struggles.

In this Briefing Caroline Ifeka explores current conflicts. She identifies historical constants in political relations between the state and ethno‐religious ‘nationalities’ and highlights those that are crumbling. As conflicts intensify the (unitary) viewpoints of certain power elites, reported daily in the print and visual media, become more strident. Ifeka compares these with the sectional perspectives of the struggling masses she encounters in tropical high forest villages, in vigilante meetings, and in guest houses in downtown city quarters. She asks: do current crises and discourses of ‘marginalisation’ constitute a penultimate phase in the history of a state born and governed through violence, and nurtured in mystifying discourses of ‘faith and unity'?

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Journal

Journal ID (publisher-id): crea20

Journal ID (archive): CREA

Title: Review of African Political Economy

Publisher: Review of African Political Economy

ISSN (Print): 0305-6244

ISSN (Electronic): 1740-1720

Publication date (Print): September 2000

Volume: 27

Issue: 85

Pages: 450-459

Article

Publisher ID: 8704478 Coden ID: Review of African Political Economy, Vol. 27, No. 85, September 2000, pp. 450-459

DOI: 10.1080/03056240008704478

SO-VID: 895ddecb-84f5-416a-abc6-7f2f92a93c22

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All content is freely available without charge to users or their institutions. Users are allowed to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of the articles in this journal without asking prior permission of the publisher or the author. Articles published in the journal are distributed under a http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

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Figures: 0, Tables: 0, References: 32, Pages: 10

References

Allen C. . 1998. . ‘Understanding African Politics’. . Review of African Political Economy . , Vol. 65:: 301––20. .
Chabal P and Daloz J‐P. . 19??. . Africa Works . , James London : : IAI. .
Fanon F. . 1967. . The Wretched of the Earth . , Middlesex : : Hardmondsworth. .
Ifeka C. . 2000. . ‘Conflict, Complicity and Confusion: Unravelling Empowerment Struggles Since the Return to “Democracy” in Nigeria. . Review of African Political Economy . , Vol. 83:
Joseph R. . 1987. . Democracy and Prebendal Politics in Nigeria. The Rise and Fall of the Second Republic . , Cambridge : : Cambridge University Press. .
Szeftel M. . 1998. . ‘Misunderstanding African Politics: Corruption and the Governance Agenda’. . Review of African Political Economy . , Vol. 76:: 224––40. .

Comments

Comment on this article

[1] Allen C. . 1998. . ‘Understanding African Politics’. . Review of African Political Economy . , Vol. 65:: 301––20. .

[2] Chabal P and Daloz J‐P. . 19??. . Africa Works . , James London : : IAI. .

[3] Fanon F. . 1967. . The Wretched of the Earth . , Middlesex : : Hardmondsworth. .

[4] Ifeka C. . 2000. . ‘Conflict, Complicity and Confusion: Unravelling Empowerment Struggles Since the Return to “Democracy” in Nigeria. . Review of African Political Economy . , Vol. 83:

[5] Joseph R. . 1987. . Democracy and Prebendal Politics in Nigeria. The Rise and Fall of the Second Republic . , Cambridge : : Cambridge University Press. .

[6] Szeftel M. . 1998. . ‘Misunderstanding African Politics: Corruption and the Governance Agenda’. . Review of African Political Economy . , Vol. 76:: 224––40. .