ETHNIC DIVERSITY IN NIGERIA I

     In this review, we look at the problems of ethnic diversity in Nigeria, its causes and its prospects. The country has suffered various economic damages so far and I do ask my myself, 'Is democracy effectively working in this country?'; actually 'no'. Democracy is a government of people with the same mind, vision, and ideology, not for a country like Nigeria.
     In my own opinion, the genesis of the insurgency, corruption, election crisis and mismanagement of resources that lies in the heart of the country can be traced to the amalgamation of 1914.
     Ethnic differences is a major factor militating against the peace of the nation and most analysts have criticized the 1914 amalgamation with the strong idea that the country should be divided according to the major ethnics. Some on the other hand, fear that the division of the nation will lead to lack of resources in some dependent parts. Well, I don't share this view because the fear of having little resources is not really necessary, and somehow, that is the situation where foreign trade is introduced.
     Most developed nations don't have all resources, they trade what they have with what they don't.
The dissolution of Nigeria will result to the greater good and regions with their own rightful leaders and equal minds. It will be a great start of a new history and breakthrough in each region.
     On the 16th of July, some youths from the Arewa Youth Development Foundation in Kano protested for the division of Nigeria ahead of the 2015 General Election. The protest was held outside the palace of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II who appeals to the disgruntled youths to maintain peace; (a peace that never existed with the killings, bombs, abductions that haunts in the northern region). Sanusi II told the protesting youths, "It is only natural that people of different and divergent culture to live in one entity as a nation, and I enjoin you people to imbibe the lesson of peace considering your role in nation development". How can we imbibe the lesson of peace while people are being slaughtered and women are being adopted by Boko Haram? It is definitely not possible, unless the dissolution of Nigeria is taken to effect, which is the only viable option on ground.
     Taking a step back to review the history of this country, most conflicts, wars, has been has been as a result of ethnic differences due to the fear of domination by regions. It all started with the colonial leaders who structured and unified the country neglecting the consideration of religious, linguistic and ethnic differences.
     During the 1940s and 1950s, the Western and Eastern parties wanted an independent Nigeria organised into small states so as to prevent the Northerners from dominating the country due to their large region and population, while the Northerners on the other hand were fearful that the Western elites would dominate the economy of the country and its politics.
On January 15, 1966 (just six years after the sought independence we believed would bound us together) was the country's first revolutionary coup that led to the killing of the prime minister, a federal minister, two regional premiers, and top army officers from the Northern and Western regions. Northerners officer's dissatisfaction to the manner at which the coup plotters were handled by Gen. Aguiyi Ironsi led to a counter-coup on the 29th of July, 1966.
     All these signifies that there can't be peace, harmony and a stable government in Nigeria unless the country is divided. Our leaders seem to be ignoring this fact due to reasons we can only speculate on, but no matter how hard they try, the dissolution of Nigeria will occur. It may only take time to realise what we've denied ourselves all these years.
     A Northern Nigerian Muslim nationalist leader once described Nigeria "the mistake of 1914" while a prominent Southern Nigerian Christian nationalist figure called Nigeria "a mere geographic expression". The 1914 amalgamation was an act of colonial convenience. It occurred mainly because British colonizers desired a contiguous colonial territory stretching from arid  Sahel to the Atlantic Coast, and because Northern Nigeria, one of the merging units, was not paying its way while Southern Nigeria, the other British colony, generated revenue in excess of its administrative expenses.
     So far, it has resulted into political disagreements, suspicions between the two regions, mismanagement of national resources and misrule by multi-ethnic and multi-religion coalitions of successive rulers, religious conflict between Christian and Muslims, and the present Boko Haram attacks in Nigeria.
     Boko Haram seeks the establishment of an Islamic state in Nigeria, and thus opposes the westernizing of Nigeria society that has concentrated the wealth of the country among a small, mainly southern elite and they won't stop stop killing unless they are stopped or their demands are met. And how do our government intend to stop them?
     On 21st of May, the United states deployed 80 troops to Chad to augment efforts to find the schoolgirls taken hostage by the Islamic sect and President Goodluck Jonathan vowed earlier in January to put an end to Boko Haram activities in the country; its months now, the bloodshed and abductions still continues with no hope of seizing, yet we are been urged to promote peace and unity that never existed.
     Where there is no equality, there can never be a meaningful peace. Where there is ethnic and religious differences, there can't be unity.