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Federal Politics of State Creation and Political Marginalization in the South-East of Nigeria

Simeon Chidi Wokoma JP, Emmanuel Chinedu MacAlex-Achinulo, Ph.D

Abstract

This study examined the nexus between federal politics of state creation and political marginalization in the South-East of Nigeria. Specifically, the study’s objectives were to; investigate the evolution of Nigerian federalism and state creation, the factors driving the agitation for an additional state in the South-East, the implications of political marginalization on governance and development of the region and interrogate the nexus between the economic viability of the region in state creation, as well as the challenge confronting the realization of the region’s aspiration. The study was anchored on Elite Theory propounded by Vilfredo Pareto (1896) and subsequently developed by Gaetano Mosca (1896) and Robert Michels (1911) and complimented by Relative Deprivation Theory advanced by Ted Robert Gurr (1970). The study adopted a qualitative research design based on documentaries and relevant scholarly published literatures of secondary sources. Findings revealed that although federalism is constitutionally intended to promote equity, political inclusion, and balanced development, its implementation in Nigeria has produced enduring structural inequalities. State creation has been influenced by political expediency and elite interests rather, than objective administrative or developmental considerations. The study concluded that South-East quest is for constitutional equity, political inclusion, and balanced federalism, rather than territorial expansion. Therefore, the study recommended comprehensive constitutional reforms, transparent and objective criteria for state creation, equitable resource distribution, etc.

Keywords

FederalismState creationMarginalizationElite theory and Relative Deprivation Theory.

References

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