By Awa Kalu, SAN

Tendency of domination by bigger ethnic groups

At independence, it was clear that our nation is constituted by large and in some cases, smaller ethnic groups. It was thought right from inception that the larger ethnic groups would have a tendency to dominate the smaller ones, for which reason, the fears of minorities were assuaged by the stipulation of fundamental rights as a chapter in the independence constitution of 1960, as well as subsequent constitutions. Irrefutably, we have had to endure ethnic tensions throughout the history of this would be great country. We may at this stage borrow a few words from a book (Foundations of a New Nigeria) edited by two great and celebrated scholars, Sam Oyovbaire and Tunji Olagunju.

In their introduction, they argue that ‘History is a succession of events in the life of nations, of peoples or of communities. Historical events are social cummulations. Fundamentally, one set of identifiable events in time and space is as much rooted in a preceding set as it is the root of succeeding events’. ‘Similarly’, they contend, ‘historical events in one place could become the genesis of events in other places depending, of course, on the critical nature of the former. In this manner of conceptualizing events, history could be said to be unrestricted by space and time.’

The authors further opine that history and historical events are not amorphous or shapeless occurrences. On the contrary, historical events and processes possess uniqueness which marks them as much the product of the past and of particular places, as they are sufficiently differentiated from their antecedents. Such uniqueness of history provides both the basis from a break from either the past or from events of other places, as well as the basis of a completely new future history. The decisiveness of the unique nature and character of historical events and processes provides the basis for the differentiation in history. They then affirm a truism, on which the basis our country may be judged, that a set of events and processes could be quite profound and long drawn-out with the attendant consequence that existing structures and values of a nation become completely broken or overturned, giving rise to new structures, institutions, values and patterns of social conduct.’

Furthermore, with the history of Nigeria as a plank on which to analyse her problems, Chief Arthur Nwankwo, a foremost nationalist and public affairs analyst lambasts this country in his book NIGERIA: THE POLITICAL TRANSITION & THE FUTURE OF

DEMOCRACY as a nation in search of identity and consciousness. He argues that the dilemma of contemporary Nigeria is mind-boggling.

Nigeria’s myriad of problems

Nigeria is bedeviled by a myriad of problems which require radical therapies.

In very strong words, he compares ‘the enormous problems of the polity’ with ‘the reality of a tragic dance of death; a ritual with no purpose and a rite in celebration of decay and putrefaction’. Arthur Nwankwo further contends that ‘in examining the Nigerian condition’, he is ‘reminded of that parabolic signification of communal ethos in a society caught in the web of organized intrigue. The belief that a disease which is ravaging a land needs the blood of an animal matching its potency for exoneration, exorcism and amelioration holds absolutely true for the Nigerian State’. In a tone brimming with resignation and surrender, he alleges that ‘the only qualification to the time-honoured liberationist paradigm is that not even the blood of a mortal, and a clansman’s at that , may have the efficacy of purgation, or the potency of regeneration’. As angry as his words indicate, he however takes the path of a statesman and asks; ‘what are the basic tentative measures likely to arrest the calm strive towards chaos and the fatalistic journey into the molten abyss and morass of the unknown?’ He concludes that Nigeria’s drift into chaos is both attitudinal and institutional.

His belief is that arresting the drift demands the re-orientation of individual and collective awakening to realities.

How to get out of the problem

How do we get out of the quagmire which has been created by multiple rain-makers, ethnic jingoist and chauvinists? How do we ensure that the indivisibility and indissolubility of our great nation remains a reality? There is a consensus that we must live together as one and that we must preserve the dreams of our founding fathers. However, opinions differ as to the means of preserving “oneness”. Are you a federalist or are you an unrepentant believer in the unitary system?

Are you in favour of wholesale restructuring of the federation or are you at best, an advocate of devolution of powers? Whatever side of the divide you belong to, our road to unity starts from a point where all of us as Nigerians will bury our differences, sheathe our swords and love one another. That way, no ethnic group will be regarded as tenants or landlords as the case may be.

.Concluded