Ethnicity and Prebendal Politics: Implications for Democratic Consolidation in Nigeria

Abstract

Nigeria is a heterogeneous society comprising diverse ethnic, linguistic and cultural groups. Contact with the colonialists suddenly changed the peaceful coexistence of the groups and threw up ethnic loyalty and ethnocentrism. The fear of domination by some ethnic groups heightened the struggle for scarce resources and quest for control of power. The competition for power and resources which gullible politicians and public office holders believe are easily gotten from the state culminated in prebendalism. The paper examines the implications of the two variables of ethnicity and prebendal politics on democratic consolidation in Nigeria and recommends good governance as a way of addressing their negative effects. This study is hinged on the Tallcot Parsons’ pattern variables as theoretical framework of analysis.