FEDERAL 'IMPERIALISM' AND THE EROSION OF IGBO IDENTITY IN NIGERIAN POLITICS: AN ANALYSIS OF THE IGBO POLITICAL CLOUT IN THE FOURTH REPUBLIC

Abstract

Harold Laswell’ Is definition of politics in terms of allocation of values and resources in the society fits well to the Nigerian context. Nigerian politics since the colonial period has been characterized by ethnic chauvinism, hence it means 'who gets what, when and how'1 to each ethnic group. Nigeria is made up of over two hundred and fifty ethnic groups2 of which three, namely; the Hausa /Fulani, the Igbo and Yoruba appear to be the most dominant. The structure of Nigerian federation appears lopsided; there is a concentration of power and authority at the center. As a writer described it, "The Nigerian federation is deformed; the system has been skewed in such a way that the center has been so loaded to the detriment of states and local councils"2. Consequently, its attractiveness has made the ethnic groups to shun politics at the periphery and fervently crave to be at the center so as to preside over the 'sharing of the national cake'.