Nigeria Multi -Ethnic Cleavages And Religiousity: A Jeopardy To Nation Building By Murphy Ajake

Nigeria Multi -Ethnic Cleavages And Religiousity: A Jeopardy To Nation Building By Murphy Ajake

BY MURPHY AJAKE.

Considering the modern realities of our political activities and statements from our political actors in recent times, it shows that the interactable political/ Social conflicts in our country can be explained by our Multi-ethnic cleavages.

The high level of ethnic pluralism, religious fractionalization and cultural differentiation have given rise to parochial ethnic loyalties.

Put differently, National Identity has been subsumed within ethno-linguistic groups.

In other words, most political actors are below the threshold of integration, and this to me actually makes consensus which permits the maintenance of social order extremely implausible.

The experiences in our political actors mostly in their statements, campaigns and leadership styles clearly demonstrate the effects of ethnic pluralism as a contributory factor for political and social conflicts in our country whether we like it or not and that of course jeopardizes the faith of nation building.

Conflict in this context is said to be a situation wherein they is a confrontation between one or more parties aspiring towards incompatible or competitive means of ends. OR

It can be seen as perceived divergence of interests or a belief that the parties' current aspirations  can not be achieved simultaneously.

And it can take place when parties confront each other with competing actions and counter actions, and it emerges when parties compete over actual or perceived values, goals or interests.

That is why you can hear candidates of platforms making statements like; " Vote for me because I'm from the North, don't vote for a candidate from Igbo or Yoruba", and others will say " It's the turn of Yorubas to produce the next president of Nigeria",  " I will return governance to the church"  which for me this demonstrates religiousity.

And we from this other end we raised issues of Muslim/Muslim ticket, Muslim/Christian ticket, Christian/Christian ticket and so on.

For me, all of these  sentiments doesn't and will not in anyway determine the economic development of the country neither will it resolve the political/social conflict that has beguilt our country.

The vision of our first leaders who were nationalists was to Shear values of justice, equity and brotherhood for perpurses of nation building and a leavabl environment that will enhance one indivisible prosperous nation.

Therefore, the promotion of ethnicity and religiousity over nation building and economic development by our socio political actors should be put to nullity.