What is tribalism?
This is a situation in which people of a particular tribe accept only to identify with those of their tribe. In a country as big as Nigeria where so many tribes and culture are found, tribalism becomes a threat mainly in the political system.
After Nigeria gained independence, there was an attempt to stave off ethnic conflicts, the Mid-Western region was created in August 1963 by dividing the Western region. Despite this division, the country still was segmented into three large geographic regions, each of which was essentially controlled by an ethnic group. The West by the Yorubas, the East by the Igbos, and the North by the Hausa-Fulani.
Conflicts were endemic as regional leaders protected their privilege. The south complained of the northerners domination, the north feared that the southern elite was bent on captivating power, in the west the government had fallen apart in 1962, and a boycott of federal election of December 1964 brought the country to the brink of breakdown. The point of no return was reached in January 1966, when after the collapse of order in the West following the fraudulent election of October 1965.
And now, this brings us down to the last conducted election which took place on 25 February 2023 to elect the president, vice president and members of the National Assembly and Houses of Assembly.
If you study the basis of the political system in Nigeria, one will notice that tribalism has a great effect on the masses and is a major hindrance to unity in the country. Being tribalistic has never proven to be healthy aside from favouring and aiding only people from the same tribe which in turn causes bitterness and chaos from other tribes and eventually leads to hatred or war.
But there was a difference in the last election which took place on February 25th 2023. it is only in Nigeria that ruling goes in circle, from one past ruler to the other, power is never shared amongst the youth or new contestants whom plans to emerge as president. This act of theirs alone creates political apathy in the minds of interested rulers, voters and citizens at large, not to even mention the fraudulent and violent activities that takes place in the process of voting.
Although we are all aware of the issue of tribalism in Nigeria, somehow, it didn’t even stand in the last contested election. It was obvious to how everyone was rooting for the newly emerged ruling party (Labour Party. LP) held by Peter Obi in opposition to the other party (All People’s Choice. APC) which has ruled for so many years without any positive changes. With this idea at heart, the masses was really excited, although it wasn’t everyone on the side of the newly emerging party, but one could boast that out of a 100% of voters, 70% were on the side of (Peter Obi), not even caring if he could put the country into displacement mainly because he’s Igbo by tribe and we all are aware of what happened the last time an Igbo ruled. (The issue of Biafra on July 6, 1967).
All that the masses hoped for while voting Peter Obi was a difference, we cannot always push new emerging leaders aside because of the issue of tribalism or political apathy. People saw it better to vote for (Peter Obi) than to allow (Bola Ahmed Tinubu) rule mainly because he’s old and also at the age of retirement, which is quite true. But as we know, election in Nigeria does not always goes as planned. It is always with the case of bribery, violence, riggings and fraud.
Due to the obvious votes, which were transparent to everyone during the last election, one could conclude the winner is supposed to be (Peter Obi) but as we all know the high level of corruption which always takes place in electoral affairs in Nigeria, expectations are always shattered. Bola Ahmed Tinubu ended up as the winner, and like everyone would suggest, his procedure to winning was not legit due to the lack of transparency in the announcement of the results. Everyone claimed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials were bribed because there were some errors and delays in the calling of the result.
This is also a major challenge in the issue of voting in Nigeria.
As we know how things go with the Hausa, they only vote their tribe, never supportive of other tribes. I don’t know if I should blame it on the population of uneducated in their midst or I should call it (Racism).
In my best opinion, this issue of tribalism shouldn’t be encouraged anymore because we can see how it wasn’t even the case here; the aim of the government always prevails whether or not we are tribalistic towards one another.
Tribalism is harmful in so many ways, imagine people from the same county but different ethnicity hating one another mainly because of tribe difference. Tribalism brings about separation, it kills the rapid rate at which people are supposed to spread into each other to share ideas, breed, reproduce and communicate.
Imagine someone from an Igbo tribe being unable to marry a Hausa or a Yoruba and Hausa not willing to vote an Igbo tribe into power.
Tribalism limits the spread and knowledge of one’s culture, food type, and traits.
Tribalism is just like Racism between whites and blacks, each and every one of us being human, but is rejected because of colour difference, meanwhile, we all bleed red.
Tribalism has already spread throughout Nigeria to almost the extent of no return. If only it could stop, there would be peace and unity in so many ways. But tribalism has already spread about, it is there in the market, it is there in the schools, it is there mainly in the political sector, the issue of favoritism, having godfathers and all that.
This is really heartbreaking, unwillingness to accept each other because of tribe difference.
I hope with time, this issue of tribalism in Nigeria dies so there can be peace and stability in the country, healing some broken parts in her heart. Amen.
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Loveth Kevwe Odebala is a student of the Department of English and Literary Studies, Delta State University, Abraka
