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Chapter Three
NATIONAL INTEGRATION IN NIGERIA
Rina Okonkwo
Godfrey Okoye University, Ugwuomu Nike, Enugu State
From the colonial period to the present, Nigeria has evolved as a nation. The issue of national unity has
plagued Nigeria from its inception. Today, Nigeria has surmounted some of the challenges of diversity
and its many cultural groups. It has achieved greater national unity over the almost fifty years of
existence. The twenty- first century has posed new threats to national integration with the militancy of
the unemployed. The new tensions in the country come from the rise of militant groups in the Niger
Delta. The wave of kidnappings and destruction of oil pipelines by unemployed youths forecasts a period
of instability and danger to national integration. The unemployed in all parts of the country are
increasingly violent in Jos, Lagos, and other cities. The recent crisis in Jos saw a thousand unemployed
gathering at the borders to enter the mayhem. To overcome the latest threat to national unity, we need
a return to our cultural values. With the de-emphasis on ethnic groups, we may have lost sight -of the
positive contribution cultural groups can make to educating young people in the right values. The
traditions of African ethnic groups must be inculcated in our youth to guide them in the right direction.
Ethnic groups are communal or cultural groups based on common ethnicity, language, customs, and/or
territory. The concept of ethnic group is different from tribe. Tribe is gradually passing from usage. Tribe
is defined as a group bound together from the beginning of time with common ancestor, line of descent,
kinship, territory, and language. The word tribe is no long acceptable because it does not accurately
describe the history of cultural groups as they emerged in the colonial period and saw full development
in the First Republic (1960-65). In my chapter, "A Re-Examination of the History of Ethnic Groups in
Nigeria,’’ I demonstrated that ethnic groups did not exist in the pre-colonial period. In the early days,
there was no unity among members of ethnic groups. Members did not identify themselves as belonging
to ethnic groups. Rather, they saw themselves as from small villages. These small village groups were
not under a central government. There was often distrust or suspicion of strangers from other towns.
The colonial government helped to develop ethnic groups through their uniting of villages into regions.
With the creation of three major regions, the North, the West, and the East, in 1939, the people were
brought together for the first time. Next, cultural and political entrepreneurs set out to forge unity
among the groups. In the 1940s, cultural associations such as the Ibibio Union, the Igbo State Union, and
Egbe Omo Oduduwa, emphasized common culture and history of its group. The next step in the
cementing of ethnic groups was the Macpherson Constitution of 1951. The regions were given greater
power through division of the civil service by regions. The federal civil service, previously a great source
of national integration, was now divided into three. As there was a shortage of qualified Northerners to
fill positions in the civil service, the Northern region put southerners on contract.
The formation of political parties also followed regions. The Northern People's Congress (NPC) was a
"closed" party, restricted to the North. There were no branches of the party outside the North.
Southerners in the North could not join the party. Southerners resident in the North were barred from
contesting for election in the North.
Extreme regionalism was the main characteristic of the First Republic. The slogan was "East for the
Easterners, West for the Westerners, and North for the Northerners. Nigeria for nobody.’’
Regions were more powerful than the federal government. The North, with the greatest population,
controlled the country. There was strong discontent in the South. The two coups of January and
July, 1966, brought change. Major General Johnson Aguiyi Ironsi declared the regions abolished and
decreed one civil service for the country. This action angered the North who opposed opening the
civil service in the North to southerners. They feared Southern domination. The pogroms against Igbos
in the North were an expression of anger in the North against the attempt to end Northern control.
When the next Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, took power in the coup of July 1966, Northerners
attacked southerners, and southerners fled the North. Gowon succeeded in dismantling the regional
structure of the country. On May 27, 1967, Gowon announced the creation of twelve states. Six states
were formed from the North, three states from the East, and two in the West and one in the Mid West.
The creation of states diluted the power of the three regions. The federal government increased its
power as the bloc voting by regions was ended.
Along with the division of the regions, there was increased power for the government and dilution of
the power of the emirs. The reduction of the power of the emirs was essential in developing
loyalties to the nation instead of the 7region. The federal government also increased its power over
revenue allocation. In the First Republic, the regions controlled more revenue than the federal
government. The federal government gradually took over the major share of revue and decreased the
allocations to the states. The federal government control of revenue consolidated the power of the
central government over the states.
The Civil War may have furthered the national integration of Nigeria with the victory of the federal
government, there was an end to the idea of secession. The failure of Biafra closed the chapter of the
First Republic and began a new era of national integration. In 1976, nineteen states were created. The
West was split into Ondo, Ogun, and Oyo, and Kwara. The East Central State was divided into Anambra
and Imo. In the North, new states included Kaduna, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, Bauchi, Benue, Gongola, and
Borno. Again in 1991, the East was split up even further to add Enugu State and Abia State. Cross River
State was divided to make Akwa Thorn State. Bendel state was split into Delta State and Edo State. New
states in the North included Katsina Adamawa Taraba Jigawa, Nassarawa, and Kogi. New states in the
West included Osun. In 1996, Kebbi, Yobe, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Bayelsa, and Gombe Were added to make
thirty-six states. The creation of states was a move towards national unity as ethnic unity was diluted.
There is now a return to pre-colonial pattern of many groups within each larger group. The division into
more states has increased local loyalties and prevented the potential for unity among the larger ethnic
groups. There is a return to the colonial principle of divide and rule. None of the regions speaks with one
voice.
Positive measures should now be taken to build national loyalty. To inspire patriotism in the country, the
schools should emphasize symbols of the nation such as the national anthem and the pledge. Nigerian
history should be taught and there should be special emphasis on the heroes of the nation. The history
of the movement for freedom from colonial rule can be a stirring call for youths to replicate the courage
of our past leaders. The schools are nurseries for training future citizens. The key lesson
IS
teaching
local culture. The norms and values of each cultural group can be the basis for building national loyalties.
We should start from the cultural groups to build strong character and morals among the young people.
We cannot move towards a strong, ethical nation without imbuing strong understanding of basic rules
for behavior. University education must imbue youths with values. The Humanities course in the
General Studies programme seeks to teach students about their cultures and also to emphasize the
factors for national unity. The education can reach out to rural areas with cinema and theatre groups to
teach the lessons of cultural identity and also national integration.
Culture is defined as "cultivating or developing the mind, faculties, manners, improvement or
refinement by education and training." TS Eliot, the great English poet, noted that the culture
of the individual depends on the culture of the group." We must teach our youths about their cultures.
Culture is central to each individual. "Every action is made possible and constrained by culture." It is
necessary to know one's culture before building a bridge to others. Ethnic groups give youths a proper
base and identity. The individual has the security and confidence to move out into the society and work
for the good of the whole. Instead of fostering separation and exclusivity, ethnic groups uphold
standards and join with others to improve the values of the society." There is agreement on the
principle of national transcendence over local groups. There is a general belief in tolerance for other
groups. “No race possesses the monopoly of beauty, of intelligence, of force, and there is a place for all
at the rendezvous of victory.”
The achievement of national integration depends upon a just government for all citizens. There must be
"equilibrium between a powerful and prosperous modem state and concern for the liberty of
multifarious cultural elements. Developing national consciousness is a conscious decision. It requires
deliberate policy and efforts. "The nation is not a given. It can only arise as the result of conscious effort,
an existential choice which enables man to escape form 'natural determinants. "
Nigeria has made great strides towards national integration. Unlike the regional parties of the First
Republic, there are now national parties contesting elections. People's Democratic Party (PDP) is a
national party. The Action Congress (AC) is also national. The National Youth Service Corps, despite its
shortcomings, exposes youths to other parts of Nigeria. Federal Government Colleges, dubbed unity
schools, might be revived to work as another source of improving understanding among different
groups. National universities and improved communication and transportation throughout the country
foster national identity. National associations such as trade unions hold annual conferences to bring
about cooperation and common purpose among its members.
Although we cannot say that destructive ethnic rivalries and distrust have been abolished, we can say
that there is gradual progress towards improved understanding in the country. At present, ethnic groups
are no longer the greatest threat to national integration in Nigeria. The breakdown of the rule of law in
the Niger Delta and other parts of Nigeria is caused by "the lost generation of youths."?" Angry, hungry,
and restless youths are not speaking for ethnic groups, so much as the army of the unemployed. The
youth are taking the revenge of the poor, of the people least able to bring up children in a modem
society."?"
To meet this new challenge to national stability, there must be efforts to bring employment to
.Nigerians. BBC announced that 90% of people in the Niger Delta are unemployed. We do not have
the statistics for other parts of Nigeria. When the newly elected US President campaigned, he said the
solution to the economic crisis was "JOBS." The problem in many countries all over the world is
the plight of the unemployed. Until people are financially independent, they lack dignity and security.
The unemployed are a source for social and political unrest in the world. In his study of the unemployed
in Kenya, Emmit B. Evans, Jr. noted that three preconditions must exist before unemployment leads to
rebellion. Firstly, the frustrations from-unemployment must 'be widespread and intense. Secondly,
there must be a consciousness or awareness of the links between government policy and the economic
conditions for the unemployed. Thirdly, organizations must exist to channel political discontent." These
three preconditions have been met in the Niger Delta. There are other organizations of unemployed
throughout Nigeria. The pressing need today is a more equitable society with opportunity for all in the
country. The problem today is not division by ethnic groups, but division by class, the rich and the poor,
the employed and the unemployed.
REFERENCES
Rina Okonkwo, "A Re-Examination of the History of Ethnic Groups in Nigeria," African Humanities
(Humanities and Development) ed. by S.C. Chuta (Onitsha: Cape Publishers, 2000) pp. 159-166.
Rina Okonkwo, "A Re-Examination of the History of Ethnic Groups in Nigeria," African Humanities
(Humanities and Development) ed. by S.C. Chuta (Onitsha: Cape Publishers, 2000) pp. 159-166.
BJ Dudley, Parties and Politics in Northern Nigeria (London: Frank
Cass, 1968) p. 263.
Ibid. p. 297.
W. SchWarz, Nigeria (New York: Praeger, 1968) p. 159.
Edward Hulmes, Education and Cultural Diversity (London: Longman, 1989) p. 16. Ibid. pp. 16-17.
Peter Figueroa, Education and the Social Construction
if
'Race (London: Routledge, 1991) p. 28.
Ibid. p. 84.
Edward Said, "The Politics of Knowledge" Race Identity and Representative in
Education, ed. by
Cameron Mc thy and Warren Crichlow (London: Routledge, 1993) p. 312.
Aime Cesaire, Cahier d'un Retour, quoted by Edward Said Ibid. p.310.
Ralph Uwechue, Reflections on the Nigerian Civil War Facing the Future (Paris: Jeune Afrique, 1971)
p.160.
Leopold Sedar Senghor, Nation and Vote Africaine du Socialisme (Paris: Presence Africane, 1961) p. 25
quoted in Joseph W. Elder, “National Loyalties in a Newly Independent Nation," in Ideology and
Discontent, ed. by David E. Apter (Chicago: Free Press, 1964) pp. 78-9
Robert D. Kaplan, 'The Coming Anarchy," Atlantic Monthly (February, 1994) p. 54.
Karl Maier, This House Has Fallen, Nigeria in Crisis (London Penguin, 2000). p. xxvii.
Bilikisu Yusfu, quoted in Karl Maier, Ibid. p. 302.
Robert D. Kaplan, “The Coming of Anarchy,” Ibid. p.44
Emmit B. Evans, Jr. “Sources of Socio-Political Instability in an African State: The Case of Kenya’s
Unemployed,” The African Studies Review XX, 1 p.45.
