VISITING THE HIPPOPOTAMUS: NATIONAL INTEGRATION ISSUES IN NIGERIA

Abstract

National integration is the hallmark of unity and development in any polity. A multiethnic state requires potent integration mechanisms because multi-ethnicity is a potential political ‘time-bomb’ which may explode at any time. There is the need to position integrating mechanisms which will stem the tide of violence, favoritism and nepotism in the polity. Nigeria like many developing countries of the world is a multiethnic state and needs a potent national integrative mechanism. The federal character principle is identified in this paper as a mechanism used in Nigeria. This integrative prowess had caused the country a tempo gusto but to a large extent had been corrupted and rendered less effective by the interplay of the duo of ethnic chauvinism and religious bigotry. Aluko Opeyemi Idowu,