ETHNIC NATIONALISM AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA. (A CASE STUDY OF BUHARI ADMINISTRATION 2015-2023)

The study examines Ethnic Nationalism and Socio-Economic Development in Nigeria, using Buhari Administration 2015-2023 as the case study. The study provides more insight into the concept of ethnicity, nationalism, factors leading to ethnic nationalism in modern Nigeria, how ethnic nationalism has affected the socio-economic development in Nigeria, and how to curb or reduce the negative effect of ethnic nationalism on the socio-economic development in Nigeria. The study use Primordialist and socio-biological theory, and instrumentalist theory in addressing the topic. Secondly, findings on the impact of ethnic nationalism in the modern Nigeria socio-economic development revealed that, the issue of ethnic nationalism has led to continual threat to the peace, political stability and socio-economic development in Nigeria as a whole. Thirdly, the impact of ethnic nationalism gave rise to the materialization of ethnic militias across the country, such as the Odua People’s Congress (OPC) for the Yoruba nationality, Arewa People’s Congress (APC) for Hausa/Fulani nationality, Biafra for the Igbo nationality. The impact of the Nigerian civil society. And lastly, findings on what can be done to minimize the negative concomitants of ethnic nationalism showed that, there should be a platform/forum (national conference) for which all the various ethnic nationalities in Nigeria can unite to address the national question. The issue of power rotation or sharing must be institutionalized and well-established in the constitution of the federal republic of the country. A “Two Party System” is the best alternative for a country like Nigeria where people influence our diversity to cause problem. The study concluded that, nationalism is politicized ethnicity and manifests whenever a group of people feels particularly targeted for ill-treatment or oppression especially in a diverse political system. Unity in diversity must be encouraged and promoted, and proper education (orientation) must be the order of the day and the pursuit of the government. The study further recommends that: Our leaders should formulate policies and strategies will enhance and promote diverse ethnic integration into politics and scrap the inherited colonial structure in place. The issue of generally acceptable revenue should be based on each state population and not on land mass. There should be removal of column opening Nigerians without the use of ethnic background as criteria for qualification. Policymakers should formulate policies unifying national goals which will hence, put ethnic statements as second place in terms of priority.