ETHNIC CONFLICT AND NIGERIA'S NATIONAL STABILITY (A CASE STUDY OF OBASANJO’S REGIME)

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Right from the start of its existence, the nation that is now known as Nigeria was established by British colonialists, who were tasked with the responsibility of bringing together a diverse group of ethnic nations in 1914 to form a single nation state. The primary ethnic groups in Nigeria are the Hausa, the Igbo, and the Yoruba. Minority groups in Nigeria include the Efik, the Igala, the Tiv, the Jukun, the Urhobo, the Ijaw, the Ibibio, and others. According to current studies, there are around 374 different ethnic groups in Nigeria (Egwu 2021). Therefore, as a direct result of the numerous cultural traditions that coexist in Nigeria, several forms of ethnic strife have surfaced throughout the country's history. Because of this strife, the Hausa and the Igbo were often forced into an extremely violent confrontation with one another. The implementation of the Sharia legal system in the Northern region caused major violence in several states located in the Northern region. At the same time, in the southern region of the nation, the Yoruba and the Hausa have also brutally opposed each other (Engel 2022).

There is also proof of the different intra-ethnic confrontations that have been observed among the minority groups, such as the lfe-modake, TIV, and Jukun, as well as the incessant fights that have become a regular occurrence in the sections of the nation that are located in the Niger Delta. The fact that so many wars have recently taken place demonstrates that the cohesiveness of the nation is in jeopardy (Francis 2021). Olusegun Obasajo was inaugurated in as the democratically elected President of Nigeria on May 29, 1999. Despite the fact that Nigeria has been experimenting with democracy for four years now, the country continues to be plagued by economic, political, and social unpredictability. There are still flashpoints of violence involving ethnic groups, community faiths, and resources, and the economic climate is uncertain (Egwu 2021).

The crisis in the Niger Delta has been resolved, but environmental deterioration in oil-producing regions is still an issue. The public perception that the government has been insensitive and slow in addressing fundamental issues affecting Nigerians, such as poverty alleviation, resource distribution, infrastructural development, and security, is exacerbating this problem. These issues include the distribution of resources, the development of infrastructure, and security (Engel 2022). There is still a general feeling of unpredictability that permeates the Nigerian society, which prevents the country from making the most of the rich people and material resources it possesses for the purpose of advancing the nation's sociopolitical and economic systems to their full potential.

According to what Rot child (1969:54) had to say about the matter, "ethnic conflicts has a definite likelihood of following the part to a major imbalance or disjunction between order and growth at any level of the social structures" (Francis 2021). Despite this, numerous policies have been put into place, both by the colonial rulers and the indigenous post-colonial authorities, in order to solve the challenges that the nation faces as a result of its ethnic conflicts. It would appear that their primary goals have not been to completely eradicate ethnic tensions but rather to keep them under control (Egwu 2021). This is due to the simple fact that the Nigerian state has on numerous occasions been a contributing factor in an ethnic conflict. This has occurred as a direct result of the country's discriminatory policies toward different ethnic groups, and more specifically because of the ethnic background of those who control or dominate the state. Nigeria is in a precarious position; the ethnic conflict that has been plaguing the country for so long has been a major impediment to our national stability. The consequences of the country's disintegration are difficult to imagine, and the thought of yet another civil war is even more horrifying.

According to Engel (2022), the most significant challenge to Nigeria's attempt to become a country is its ethnic consciousness. In light of the recently revitalized ethical groups, we decided to carry out this research. Even with the present democratic system, in which everyone is supposed to contribute to the general growth of the nation, some people still don't do their part. In this research, we will attempt to investigate the history of the nation as well as the factors that contribute to the occurrence of ethnic conflict there. In addition, we will place an emphasis on the good aspects of ethnic variation identity social cohesiveness and stability. We will also investigate ways to capitalize on the differences and similarities that exist among the various ethnic groups in order to advance the nation's development and ultimately build a Nigerian nation state in which no man is subjected to oppression or discrimination on the basis of the ethnic group from which he or she originates in Nigeria.

In the first chapter, we will present a summary of the problem that is the focus of this research. We will also discuss the purpose, significance, and extent of the diverse literature that has been produced by academics in the study of ethnicity and the results of conflict associated with it. In the third chapter, we will concentrate on the research technique that was utilized in the process of data collecting. In the fourth chapter, we will evaluate the data that was acquired and test it against the hypothesis of this study. And results as well as some suggestions for dealing with or avoiding ethical conflicts that were made at the conclusion. In the interest of creating a nation that is secure and which would foster the growth of the sociocultural, political, and economic structures of our nation Nigeria, the country where we are working.

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