Nigeria, the Giant of Africa, can boast of its outstanding Political Nationalists. They are sometimes called “Freedomites”. Most of our children in schools are constantly reminded of their heroic deeds. But his bad deeds are often neglected. In fact, this article will argue that everyone had an Ethnicity Syndrome, through the Tripartition policy of the British. Unfortunately, Nigeria is now suffering from the consequences and effects of this ethnic syndrome on its political nationalists. However, to further reinforce and clarify the tone of where we are headed, it is essential to provide a concise analysis of the concept of Ethnicity Syndrome itself.
The Syndrome of Ethnicity, metaphorically refers to a disease diagnosed to those whose actions and judgments are influenced by the feeling of belonging to a particular group. These types of people often take their group or tribe as an authority and also claim that their group is the best among the others. Your actions and judgments are often influenced by this feeling. Thus, in this sense, we can say that they have an ethnicity syndrome. Against this background, it is appropriate to delve into the common thread of this article.
Ethnicity (or tribalism) first came to the fore during World War II. This war reduced the leadership efficiency of the colonial masters in Nigeria, which in turn led to a period of great famine, inequality, insecurity, etc. As a result of this, various groups were formed to serve the needs of their members. Such groups include; The Egba Society (1918), The Ijebu Youth Union (1923), The Yoruba Union (1924), The Ibibio State Union, etc. As a result of a poor economy, poor security, unemployment, etc., these ethnic groups began to compete with each other in a socio-economic competition. Each ethnic group will fight against other ethnic groups to ensure that the needs of their own members are met. It was at this ethnic point, it became a full-scale insurgency.
Furthermore, the split in the Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM), which was triggered by an ethnic divide between Nigeria’s political nationalists (Ikoli, Awolowo, Akinsanya and Nnamdi Azikwe), also helped resolve the issue of ethnicity in the country. . Angry, Nnamdi Azikwe removed his Igbo followers from the group and Obafemi Awolowo did the same. At this point, it is completely safe to say that the educated elite of the Nigerian Youth Movement had an ethnic syndrome, which led to the collapse of the movement.
Consequently, the British introduction of tripartite politics through the Richards constitution of 1943 further exacerbated the issue of ethnicity in the country. Through the Richards constitution, Nigeria was divided into three giant regions; the Northern Region, the Western Region and the Eastern Region, which represented the three main tribes of Nigeria; the Hausa, the Yoruba and the Igbo respectively. In the same way, the many ethnic groups that had formed before that time also amalgamated to form the Egbe Omo Oduduwa society in London (1945), the Ibo State Union (1944) and the Jamiya Mutanen Arewa. Each one also represents the three giant tribes in Nigeria. “A bad situation in a country that was supposed to be united as one” (Jide Olanrewaju). However, having been infected with an ethnic syndrome that was further reinforced by the British tri-partition policy, the effect of this ethnic syndrome on Nigeria’s political nationalists soon came to light.
Since other African countries had started the fight for political independence, it was not a surprise that the educated elites of Nigeria (Awolowo, Azikwe, etc.) started fighting for political independence. This was further aided when the Richards constitution of 1943 legalized the politicization of communal associations. Thus, the Egbe Omo Oduduwa society became the Nigerian Action Group (AG) in 1951 headed by Awolowo, the Igbo State Union became the Nigeria and Cameroon National Council (NCNC) in 1944 headed by Azikwe, and Jamiya Mutanen Arewa became the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) in 1951 headed by Ahmadu Bello.
Finally, Nigeria became an independent nation in 1960 and the first Republic began. Unfortunately, the chain of tribal events that occurred before independence led to excessive corruption, nepotism, and mismanagement of public funds in the early republic. “The North wanted to make sure it stayed in power, the South wanted to make sure it tasted power” (Jide Olanrewaju). At this point, the effect of an ethnic syndrome, suffered by the political nationalists of Nigeria, began to actualize itself. His actions and judgments were clouded. They took greed, corruption and nepotism as virtues. Obviously, they were all under the influence of an ethnic syndrome. In fact, Nigeria was completely in ruins during the first Republic. In turn, this shaky atmosphere brought the army to power and was directly responsible for the first coup in Nigeria. At this point, Nigeria was still redeemable. But that hope was shattered when General Muritala Ramat Muhammad seized power for himself without due process as Generals Ironsi and Gowon did. In fact, a classified US memo dated August 18, 1975 argued that Muritala’s action will lead to further unlawful hits and seizures. Unfortunately, the classified US memo was correct. Thus began the fall of Nigeria.
Nationalist politicians dealt a heavy blow to the first Republic. Being under the influence of an ethnic syndrome, they were directly responsible for the political tragedy of the first republic. Even though they gave Nigeria their politics, they nevertheless betrayed that independence due to their corrupt acts in the first republic. It is quite unfortunate that even the faces of these people on the Nigerian Naira currency. The five naira note, for example, bears the face of Tafawa Balewa, who was responsible for corrupt policies, mismanagement of funds and the rigged federal elections of 1964. The twenty naira note also bears the face of Muritala Muhammad, whose action led to subsequent illegitimate coups and counter-coups in Nigeria. Thus, plunging Nigeria into several decades of military dictatorship. The hundred naira note also bears the face of Obafemi Awolowo, who was thirsty for power and even became finance minister in General Gowon’s regime. How would someone who ushered in democratic principles in Nigeria become finance minister in a completely undemocratic regime? That shows how much he wanted to be in power. Also, the two hundred naira note bears the face of Sir Ahmadu Bello, a Sarduana from Sokoto, who became the oppressor of the middle belt region in the first republic. Finally, the five hundred naira note bears the face of Nnamdi Azikwe, whose decision to accept and approve the result of the rigged elections of 1964 contributed to the political tragedy of the first republic.
My point is that although these educated elites made some positive gains, their bad deeds nonetheless outweigh their good deeds. It is quite ironic that the same people who were responsible for the collapse of the Nigerian Youth Movement were also responsible for the collapse of the First Republic. It shows to what extent these nationalists suffered from an ethnic syndrome. Their actions and judgments were influenced by ethnicity. Therefore, we can say that they all had an ethnicity syndrome. “The very people whom we all praise, are the very people responsible for the ills of Nigeria today” (Elemoro Babatunde Bashir). The first republic in Nigeria was a clear indication that its educated elites, who ushered in democracy, were not what they seem to portray. They all had an ethnicity syndrome. This was the reason why the revolutionary coup by Majors Kaduna Nzeogwu, Emmanuel Ifeajuna and Adewale Ademoyega was carried out, although it did not prosper.
In all, the root cause of corruption in Nigeria is ethnicity. Being influenced by an ethnic syndrome, Nigeria’s political nationalists were responsible for the corrupt practices that have continued to plague Nigeria to this day. Therefore, if political development is to be achieved and corruption reduced, Nigerian politicians must be oriented not to fall victim to the ethnic syndrome.