Foundations Of Nigeria S Unity

Based essentially on a critique of earlier scholarship and insights from a fresh reading of the expanding corpus of primary data on Nigeria's variegated history, this book validates the existence of long-lasting and dynamic relations among Nigerians before the advent of Europeans. The historical evidence marshalled here, sufficiently proves that it was this beautiful mosaic of inter-ethnic and inter-regional intermingling, cross-fertilization, interdependence and consensus that guided the delimitation of Nigeria as a British colonial territory and also laid the foundation for the amalgamation of Northern and Southern Protectorates in 1914 into a country that was expected to become Africa's powerhouse or "Giant", as some people prefer to describe it. Fresh in perspective, didactic in nature, incisive and profound in analysis, this book offers compelling answers to the disquieting crises of relations, development and nation building confronting contemporary Nigeria. It is clear from the analyses in this volume that the National Question would remain intractable and insurmountable only if Nigerians continue to fail in managing and converting their diversities into assets like many other nations with similar pluralisms have done around the world.

This edition explores the foundations of Nigerian unity--the contradictory forces that unified the country, the nature of that unity, and the many ways in which its own history has continued to shape and define the evolution of the country. Chukwumerije advocates an escape from the disintegrative patterns of the past and defends the rationale for the continued existence of a united Nigeria.

Nigeria¿s future as a unified state is in jeopardy. Those who make or execute U.S. policy will find it difficult to advance U.S. interests in Africa without an understanding of the pressures that tear and bind Nigeria. Despite this, the centrifugal forces that tear at the country and the centripetal forces that have kept it whole are not well understood and rarely examined. After establishing Nigeria¿s importance to the United State as a cohesive and functioning state, this monograph examines the historic, religious, cultural, political, physical, demographic, and economic factors that will determine Nigeria¿s fate. It identifies the specific fault lines along which Nigeria may divide. It concludes with practical policy recommendations for the United States to support Nigerians in their efforts to maintain a functioning and integrated state, and, by so doing, advance U.S. interests.

This text captures within a single volume a wide,range of themes that underline the foundations of,modern Nigeria, notably nationalismconstitutional development, politics and,government, economy, culture, ethnicity and,religion. A comprehensive compendium of,the colonial history of Nigeria, this book,combines an interdisciplinary framework of,analysis with critical discourse to produce a,unique and fresh interpretation of colonial,history as a whole.

Nigeria has experienced different forms of crises and instability since she became independent on October 1 1960. The country has also been under different forms of rule - from the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy in the First Republic (1960-1966),to prolonged periods of military rule (1966-1979, 1983-1999) to a presidential system of governance (1979-1983, 1999-present). During these periods, there have been several contentious issues that appear to permanently put the country on the precipice. In this collection of essays, Isawa Elaigwu, a professor emeritus of political science reflects on the country's painful political experiences, arguing that it is necessary for Nigerians to understand the past and actively participate in the present in order to create a brighter future for the country. The essays in the book therefore serve as the links between the country's yesterday and today as foundations for the future.

In this Book, the Author illustrates this view based on Nigerias Experience..In the face of their ongoing crises, most Nigerians go on with their lives Smilingand Suffering as their famous Singer, Fela stated in one of his songs many years ago. Vita is calling onall his fellow Nigerians to continue smiling but to fi nd some time to refl ect on their Sufferings that arisefrom their Development crises across all sectors. These crises had been discussed extensively by manyauthors including Chinua Achebe , Wole Soyinka, Peter Lewis and more recently by Ngozi Okonjo -Iweala. Here Vita asks the questionsIs Nigeria really Unreformable? Can Nigeria grow in UNITY while remaining in her DIVERSE state ? Vita believes that Nigeria can be reformed if she is courageous enough to take what he calls a Holistic Approach to her Development Challenges. Such an approach involves the following Holistic actions in Governments Development Policies and Cultures of the people

This book is more than just a study of ethnic politics in Kenya and Nigeria. The two countries are a microcosm of the entire continent: the problems it faces, its successes and failures, and the hope and despair of hundreds of millions of its people whose aspirations have been frustrated by decades of corrupt leadership that has skilfully exploited one of Africa's biggest weaknesses -- tribalism. But the people themselves are also responsible for that. They have allowed tribalism to flourish and destroy the countries. And they have allowed unscrupulous politicians to use and abuse them -- without storming the Bastille. What they are not responsible for is dictatorship African leaders instituted to perpetuate themselves in office by exploiting tribalism. These despots have been so good at it, and have done it for so long since independence, that many African countries are now on the brink of collapse, with the people at war against themselves.

Nigeria's future as a unified state is in jeopardy. Those who make or execute U.S. policy will find it difficult to advance U.S. interests in Africa without an understanding of the pressures that tear and bind Nigeria. Despite this, the centrifugal forces that tear at the country and the centripetal forces that have kept it whole are not well understood and rarely examined. After establishing Nigeria's importance to the United State as a cohesive and functioning state, this monograph examines the historic, religious, cultural, political, physical, demographic, and economic factors that will determine Nigeria's fate. It identifies the specific fault lines along which Nigeria may divide. It concludes with practical policy recommendations for the United States to support Nigerians in their efforts to maintain a functioning and integrated state, and, by so doing, advance U.S. interests.