Journal of
African Studies and Development

  • Abbreviation: J. Afr. Stud. Dev
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-2189
  • DOI: 10.5897/JASD
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 238

Full Length Research Paper

Integration policies as structures of disintegration: the political economy of nationhood and resource control in Nigeria.

Chukwuemeka Eze Malachy
  • Chukwuemeka Eze Malachy
  • Department of Political Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
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Fidelia O. Nwobi
  • Fidelia O. Nwobi
  • Department of Public Administration, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Anambra State University, Igbariam Campus, Nigeria.
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  •  Received: 29 April 2014
  •  Accepted: 27 August 2014
  •  Published: 31 October 2014

Abstract

In its exploration of the sub-theme, ‘Nigerian nation, Resource Control and National Integration’, this paper attempts to explain the fundamental reason why all the previous efforts towards national integration failed. The paper observes that the prevailing Nigerian nation is an organizational framework established for purposes of economic exploitation and domination of multi - ethnic nationalities by foreign and national elites. Further, their method is located in the various integration policies Nigeria has pursued since British penetration, which have synthetically led to intra class struggle, fragility and failure in nation-building. Fundamentally, the paper argues that the failure of integration in Nigeria is predicated on the pursuit of elites’ individual economic interests using integration policies as tools with their attendant intra-class struggle. Thus, it recommends the establishment of a special Integration Board to usher in genuine integration process; and Sovereign National Conference to restructure Nigerian federalism.

 

Key words: integration, disintegration, federal principles, nation, national elites, domination and exploitation, political economy.