Abstract

The paper examines how elite competition for power and dominance resulted in the manipulation of ethnicity as a means of political mobilization to gain advantage to strategic position in competition with contending factions of the elite. Thus, the elites are engaged in intra-class struggle in order to access power and resources. The outcome of this reveals that the pursuit of parochial interests among the elites, on the one hand, and widening disparities in the life style of elites and the masses on the other hand generates crisis of legitimacy. Hence, the paper provides (1) a theoretical perspective which explains ethnicity as a social construction manipulated to serve elites interest eroding the basis of good governance and legitimacy; (2) examines the dialectics of ethnicity and intra-class struggle, (3) and suggest strategy of how overarching national integration will override elite centrifugal   tendencies.  Secondary data and evaluative methodology is used in data collection and analysis. Findings indicate that factional politics that erodes the bases of good governance, exploitation and crisis of legitimacy ensue. Conclusively, national interest, popular participation and empowerment is a desideratum to achieve national integration and legitimacy.

Key words: Elites, ethnicity, class struggle, legitimacy, postcolonial, national integration.