Ethnic Militia as a Social Pressure in Nigeria's Fourth Republic Politics

Duruji, M. M. (2015) Ethnic Militia as a Social Pressure in Nigeria's Fourth Republic Politics. International Journal of Research on Social and Natural Sciences (IJRSNS), 1 (1). pp. 76-84.

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Abstract

The character of the Nigerian state which is anchored on rent and the centralization of power have combined to make quest for power in the country contentious. The entrenchment of differences and rivalry among the ethnic groups to control the soul of the Nigerian state led to several violent confrontations prior to the country's independence. The successive post independent regimes failed to initiate far-reaching policy measures to coalesce ethnic differences into positive ventures that could create a pan Nigerian identity. Instead, most of the policies undertaken were rather aimed at suppressing ethnic consciousness and minimize the challenge it poses to the legitimacy of the state or the authority of the incumbent regime. The result of this is the heightened hegemonic contest for power at the centre by the ethnic groups. This competition for ethnic domination has, over the years, assumed varying forms in the politics of Nigeria. However, the phenomenon of ethnic militia as a strategy for political contention seems to have become an instrument for achieving political ends. This tactics is paying off as legitimate way of attaining power. Therefore, this paper examines ethnic militias as a social pressure group in the Fourth Republic for political contention.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Ethnic Militia, Social Pressure, Nigeria, Fourth Republic, Ethnic Rivalry
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Divisions:	Faculty of Law, Arts and Social Sciences > School of Social Sciences
Depositing User:	Mrs Patricia Nwokealisi
Date Deposited:	09 Aug 2016 11:07
Last Modified:	09 Aug 2016 11:07
URI:	http://eprints.covenantuniversity.edu.ng/id/eprint/6765

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