The Rise of Nationalism in Nigeria

Ijaw , Kanuri , Ibibio and Tiv being the most important (CIA 2006 . The main confusion rests on the definition of "ethnic group " Some African specialists see many groups in Nigeria as tribes and not distinct ethnic groups . Nigeria is one of the most diverse states in Africa (Ibrahim 1998 . Only five states in Africa are more diverse than Nigeria . It would seem only logical that ethnic diversity would have an impact on the politics and policy of Nigeria

The colonial period under British rule saw a further reinforcement of ethnic diversity through the strengthening

of regionalism . Larry Diamond (1988 ) notes that British administration , which initially carved up the region into three provinces , only led to a strengthening of the differences between the majority groups . In letting the North remain consolidated , they kept the Hausi-Fulani intact . The Northern region held mostly Hausa-Fulani but also a large population of Igbo plus several other smaller groups . Since the Hausa-Fulani were the largest group they were able to gain administrative power under colonization Equally damaging , they left the North with a much larger population that the East or South . This would prove problematic in the first republic as the North would seek to extend its base of power by wanting to maintain first-past-the-post central control rather than proportional representation

Horowitz (1985 ) points out that this is one of the uglier aspects of colonialism , the "promotion of group disparity (156 . Britain especially , promoted certain tribal groups into civil service while it let others remain as agriculturalists or laborers . A classic African example of this is in Rwanda (a Belgian colony , Britain was not alone where Tutsi were permanently elevated to the status of upper class over the Hutu farmers (previously membership had been fairly fluid . This happened in Nigeria as well , with the Hausa-Fulani and the...