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A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF NIGERIAN FEDERALISM

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1   BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Federalism has emerged as one of the most preferred forms of government based on its integrative competence to estimate the diverse political life of multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-linguistic societies.Conversely, Federalism represents a unique form of governmental arrangement. This is because, it involves the organization of the state in such manner as to promote unity while at the same time preserving existing diversities within an overarching national entity (Majekodunmi, 2015).

 Though, in the Nigerian state, the practice of federalism has continued a forbidding frightening because of the twisted nature of the federal system which has led to serious contestations among the integral populations, thus resulting in limitless fiddling and dissolution. The problem Nigeria has had to face is how to save an efficient and effective central government that would help preserve national harmony and allowing free choice for the diversities of the multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-lingual integral parts (Lanre, 2017).

Nigeria is a country of extraordinary diversity and as such, one of extraordinary complexities. These complexities are a reflection of the avalanche of ethno-cultural and religious groups co-habiting the territory and the intricacies of interaction among them. Indeed, Nigeria adventure into pluralism of religious and ethnic diversities owes its origin to colonial conquest which permitted the entire continent of Africa beginning from the early 19th century. In the case of Nigeria, the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorate made Nigeria a multi- ethnic and multi lingual country

Perhaps cognizance of the existence of latest threats to the future political stability of the emergent nation-state, the founding fathers were desirous of a system of government that would neutralize the political threats and accommodate the divergent interest of the various ethno-cultural groups. This desire eventually found expression in the federal system of government as a diversity management technique. But it must be stated here that, with the advent of the 1979 and 1999 constitution, there has been a profound change in the practice of federalism in the country in the sense that, the system has been practice in an awkward manner and this has called for into question whether Nigeria is truly operating a true federal system. This question has further accentuated by recent damming report of the national intelligence council of the United State Government which forecasted that by the year 2020, Nigeria might cease to exist as a nation-state.

Given this Background and against the fact that the operation of the system per se started far back in 1914, what is the continue relevance of the federal idea in Nigeria? This is against the background of hiccups experience so far with the system and its attendant implications for political stability.

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