The Politics of Marginalization in Nigeria Challenges of the 4th Republic

Abstract

This study is a meticulous survey of the experiences of marginalization inherent in the Nigerian politics with particular attention to the marginalization of the Niger Delta people of the South-South and the Igbos of the South East geopolitical zones. The study found out that the people of these areas share experiences of marginalization in diverse dimensions which are hoisted on the minority question as it peculiarly relates to the South-South and the experiences of the Nigerian-Biafran civil war respectively. The theory of Relative Deprivation was applied in the analysis. The theory states that when people feel that they are denied certain rights and privileges relative to a reference group, they are bound to express their discontent through conflicts. This has been the case in the Nigerian federalism over time which has continued in the fourth republic. The study therefore recommended the building of synergy by the South-South and South East geopolitical zones as being imperative and also proposed arrangements that would culminate in having strong federating units and relatively weak federal government as a panacea.