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Federalism And National Intergration In Nigeria: Issues And Challenges
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1.4 Literature review
Much work has been done on the subject matter
federalism and its relation to national integration. Most of the
scholarly works were unable to give a comprehensive analysis of Nigerian
federalism and how it affects national integration. Though some of them
made very relevant scholarly contributions to knowledge from which a
number of conclusions can be drawn.
Federalism as has been adopted
in Nigeria found its way into our political arena during the colonial
era. The concept is closely related to the various social based on
coordinative, rather than sub coordinative relationship. It emphasises
partnership among parties of equal claims to legitimacy who seek a
common social order.
Jinadu says that it is usually built as a form
of government and constitutional structure deliberately designed by
political architects to cope with the different task of maintaining
unity, while preserving diversity, Jinadu, [1979:15].
Speaking about
Nigeria federalism two schools of thought emerged on its evaluation.
The first school comprising of the nationalist believed that British
imposed federalism on Nigeria in order to maintain the neo colonial
control of the country after the lowering of the mantle. Chief Obafemi
Awolowo, a convinced federalist described the British imposed federal
structure as an abominable destructive and divisive British heritage,
Awolowo, [1968:69]. They also believed that the colonial power made sure
that there was enough structured imperfection left behind to bedevil
inter ethnic relations after independence. However, this view of
imposition held by this school is not exactly objective as Nigerians
involved gave consent for her to become a federal state.
The second
school of thought is of the opinion that historical and geographical
factors determine the political evolution of Nigerian federalism.
Nigeria being a large and culturally variegated country could not have
been governed for a long time from one centre Akinyemi, [1979:91]. This
view is not quite correct, as it is time that factors of history and
geography more than anything else determines the constitutional
evolution of Nigeria.
Ethnicity is one concept that cannot be over
looked in the discussion of the structure of Nigerian federalism and
national integration as a whole. It has been defined as the social
phenomenon associated with interaction among members of different ethnic
groups refer to social formation distinguished by the communal
character of the boundaries of which their common factors may be
language, culture or both, Nnoli, (1973:58). Nigeria is one country that
comprised various ethnic groups with physical or different backgrounds,
ancestry and tradition. Nnoli goes further to mention some
characteristics that distinguish one from ethnocentrism which simply
connotes pride in ones group, a hampering that makes the members of the
group inward looking.
According to him, ethnicity exists in a
political society consisting of diverse ethnic groups. It is also
characterized by a common consciousness of being one in relation to the
other groups. Impulsiveness can be sighted as an attribute of ethnicity
which says, is normally accompanied by nepotism and corruption. Conflict
is also seen as important aspect of ethnicity.
As he says, it is
inevitable under conditions of inter ethnic competitions for scarce
valuable resources particularly in a society where inequality is
accepted as natural and wealth is greatly exchanged.
Several efforts
have been made to adjust these social abnormalities and as Ibrahim
Babangida said from anthropological and sociological viewpoint, Nigeria
is a complex country, therefore nation building in Nigeria context must
be of necessity because it is a complex and expensive enterprise.
Eleigwa,
(1995:5), Nnoli 1978, also believed that the recovery of Nigeria will
not be an easy task. He says adequate solution to the ethnic problems of
Nigeria must stern logically from rigorous scientific analyses of the
causes of the emergence and persistence and growth of ethnicity in the
country. Ojukwu in his lecture, towards a greater Nigeria, said that
national integration cannot be achieved by giving setaceous speeches;
rather appropriate steps will include de emphasising tribe and ethnic
origin in all official documents that no Nigeria should offer
instability whatsoever.
However Ema Awa, [1976] has noted that
federalism involves corporation between the two levels of government and
such cooperation increased in scope and quantity as the federation
matures. Bargaining also assumes more important as the federation
becomes more highly developed. As he further explained, there are always
some conflicts in the relation between the regions and federal
government and among the regions and themselves.
After going through
the available literatures on federalism it was observed that the
writers made relevant contributions, they did not give a comprehensive
analysis of the problem of Nigeria federalism as they affect national
integration. Sequel to this, in exploring the meaning of federalism, the
issue of national integration must inevitably arise. In line with this,
it became germane to review the contributions made by some scholars on
national integration.
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]The problem of federalism and the associated crises of national integration in Nigeria raise serious alarm. The situation attracts growing interest and concern. The crises are very severing such that they culminate in a strong force being mounted on the federation with tendency to disintegrate the country. The works addresses this phenomenon by investigating and analysing the problem. Documentary research method is used in gathering and analysing data. So textbooks, journals, periodical publicat ... Continue reading---
