Ever wondered why Nigeria has over 200 ethnic groups? Why there is so much strife and hatred within? Why the rights to liberty and freedom of individuals seems to be infringed upon? Ever wondered what the barriers are to free speech, free movement, free participation in activities, norms and traditions?
Ethnicity is the fact or state of belonging to a social group that has a common national or cultural tradition, an ethnic group is a social group that shares a common and distinctive culture, religion, language and beliefs. Without doubt, one should realize that the existence of several ethnic groups in Nigeria may keep posing disadvantages and barriers to individual, economic and social growth. If we begin to examine how much lives and properties has been lost to tribal wars and ethnic group disagreements one wonders how we got to this point . A state alone may contain several ethnic groups, asides the dominating ones, it is not as if having ethnic groups in the first place is a bad idea, infact one of the major purposes, goals and aims of ethnic groups is to preserve language and culture.
Certain languages which came to be from the time of forefathers and early settlers are often promoted by the descendants of the clan in the name of upholding their ancestors and ancestral image as well as the drive for power and importance. Unfortunately all of these as created more diversity and differences in people such that we find members of the same state belonging to different tribes warning their own not to marry from the other tribe even within the same state!
In as much as I wouldn’t condemn ethnic laws, cultures and values since I believe no matter the level of liberty metted out or that individuals are entitled to it is still sane to say that a line needs to be drawn and a limit to going overboard morally, I would still say that there are more pressing issues Nigeria needs to focus on. This country isn't as organised, disciplined and principled as other developed countries. This is why so much diversity is more of a challenge rather than a beauty to our system .Laws such as sharia laws present in about 12 Nigerian states in the northern states, child marriages and forced marriages, treatments metted out to widows in some eastern states as well as the forced manner in which some people make the wives of their late brothers marry the next brother in line in the family are issues that have caused more sorrow, bondage than the opposite.
Another issue and form of restriction common in the eastern states is the issue of osu (outcasts) some group of individuals are regarded as outcasts based on the fact that their descendants were slaves during the slavetrade regime. These set of people are even debarred in marriage. The implementation of most of these laws and rules have led to the loss of lives and properties, Unjust treatments, Lack of freedom , gender bias and discrimination, female illiteracy, economic crisis and lack of growth in the country. Its funny how the prevention of liberty and implementation of human rights can cause a country so much imbalance. More surprising and eye opening is the fact that the existence of too many ethnic groups have caused us more issues and problems than growth.
I wouldn’t say ethnic groups be scrapped as it is what most of us regard as the basis of our existence but it is wise and important that various laws (popular and unpopular) emanating from these groups be reviewed , amended or even scrapped.
