Problem Of secession Cum Separatism In Nigeria: The Pre-Democracy And Democratic Marginalization Of The Igbos

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ABSTRACT: Could the various evidence of marginalization in pre-democracy and democratic era of Nigeria be the major factors that motivated the separatists’ agitation by the Biafra cum Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)? Providing an empirical answer to this problematic statement cum question called for this paper. Imperatively, the paper investigated how the evidence of marginalization rooted in Nigeria pre-democracy and democratic regimes partly contributed to the separatist agitation of the group in the specific areas of resource allocations; Federal Government empowerment programmes, key appointments into Government cum political offices, admission into Federal Unity Colleges among others. The paper is descriptive and aligned with qualitative orientations; it employed documented evidence cum secondary sources of data; majorly from Journal articles, media publications and textbooks. The data gathered were content analyzed thematically with logical reasoning while Relative Deprivation Theory cum Frustration Aggression Theoretical analysis of Robert

Ted Gurr and Robert K, Merton served as theoretical guides to the study. Among other findings, the study established that the nature of Nigerian democracy characterized by marginalization, inequity and inequality in the allocation of resources has partly contributed to the separatist agitation by the IPOB. Based on this, the paper recommended to the Nigerian Government; an urgent need to address the root causes of the separatist agitation through national dialogue with the group in order to end marginalization of the Igbo dominated areas (particularly, the Southeast-Nigeria). Also, there is need for political restructuring in a way that every geopolitical zone will have equal allocation of resources (such as Local Government Councils, States, Federal Government empowerment programme among others) from the Federal Government irrespective of its population. In addition, the Nigerian government should take cognizance of the principle of democracy such as equal representation of all ethnic groups in the country, respect for the rule of law and human rights among others. All these aforementioned served as practical possible solutions on how separatist agitations can be eradicated in Nigerian democracy.

Key wordss: Biafra; Democracy; IPOB; Marginalization; Separatism

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Problem Of secession Cum Separatism In Nigeria: The Pre-Democracy And Democratic Marginalization Of The Igbos

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