How Nigeria Addressed Ethnic rivalry between North & South !
Posted: 30 Aug 2023, 12:35
Nigeria has over 250 ethnic groups but the most influential are Housa-Fulani 29% , Yourba 21% ,:Igbo 18% , ljaw 10% , Kanuri 4% Ibibio 3.5% , Tic 2.5%
(1) Dominant Ethnic Groups in Nigeria
North Nigeria: Housa & Fulani Alliance ,( Similar to Amhara & Tigray alliance???)
Southern West Nigeria : Yoruba
Southern East Nigeria : Igbo (marginalized from politics but active in business sector- ticking bomb )
(2) Major Ethinic rivalries in Nigeria
Rivalry between Igbo and Yoruba is similar to the one between Amhara and Tigray
Rivalry between North & South is similar to the rivalry between Oromos and Amhara. However, the North ( Fulani-Housa and the South (dominated by Yoruba) has established integrated non-ethinic/semi-ethnic political parties and alliances
( 3) Civil War
The Biafra war of independence 1967- 1970 , where the Igbo people fought for independence but failed.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigerian_ ... l%20War%20
(4) Political system in Nigeria
Nigeria is organized under Federal system with 36 states and has been practicing democracy following military dictatorial rule for more than 20 years under presidential system and semi-ethnic political system. Power is alternatively shared between North and South but the military is dominated by the North . The agreed guideline for alternate power sharing is to elect President for a maximum 8 years ( two terms) from the North and similarly maximum 8 years from the South. However, the Igbos are politically marginalized and the Yourbas dominate the South.
(5) Religious factors
- North power is dominated by Muslims and South Power is dominated by Christians
What Ethiopia could learn from Nigeria:
- Building of a presidential based political system
-Non- Ethinic /Semi- Ethinic Federal states and integrated political parties
- Alternative power change from North and South
- Strategic alliance between Tigray and Amharas (to establish stabilizer North Power ) and Strategic alliance of Oromos , Somalia and Southern states to establish stabilizer South Power ). Election of alternate presidents from North and South every 4 years or a maximum of 8 years ( two terms)
The Challenge for Ethiopia: There is no practiced democracy ( each Ethinic group which got the opportunity to climb to power tries to cling to it to perpituity ).
It looks the rivalry & territorial conflict between Amharas and Tigray will prevent the establishment of a North stabilizer power.
(1) Dominant Ethnic Groups in Nigeria
North Nigeria: Housa & Fulani Alliance ,( Similar to Amhara & Tigray alliance???)
Southern West Nigeria : Yoruba
Southern East Nigeria : Igbo (marginalized from politics but active in business sector- ticking bomb )
(2) Major Ethinic rivalries in Nigeria
Rivalry between Igbo and Yoruba is similar to the one between Amhara and Tigray
Rivalry between North & South is similar to the rivalry between Oromos and Amhara. However, the North ( Fulani-Housa and the South (dominated by Yoruba) has established integrated non-ethinic/semi-ethnic political parties and alliances
( 3) Civil War
The Biafra war of independence 1967- 1970 , where the Igbo people fought for independence but failed.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigerian_ ... l%20War%20
(4) Political system in Nigeria
Nigeria is organized under Federal system with 36 states and has been practicing democracy following military dictatorial rule for more than 20 years under presidential system and semi-ethnic political system. Power is alternatively shared between North and South but the military is dominated by the North . The agreed guideline for alternate power sharing is to elect President for a maximum 8 years ( two terms) from the North and similarly maximum 8 years from the South. However, the Igbos are politically marginalized and the Yourbas dominate the South.
(5) Religious factors
- North power is dominated by Muslims and South Power is dominated by Christians
What Ethiopia could learn from Nigeria:
- Building of a presidential based political system
-Non- Ethinic /Semi- Ethinic Federal states and integrated political parties
- Alternative power change from North and South
- Strategic alliance between Tigray and Amharas (to establish stabilizer North Power ) and Strategic alliance of Oromos , Somalia and Southern states to establish stabilizer South Power ). Election of alternate presidents from North and South every 4 years or a maximum of 8 years ( two terms)
The Challenge for Ethiopia: There is no practiced democracy ( each Ethinic group which got the opportunity to climb to power tries to cling to it to perpituity ).
It looks the rivalry & territorial conflict between Amharas and Tigray will prevent the establishment of a North stabilizer power.