Federalism in Nigeria : accommodating diversity and promoting stability

This comparative and historical analysis of the United States of America and Nigeria examines why federalism has not succeeded in managing and accommodating diversity in Nigeria. This is because federalism is presented as a solution to organize distinct political identities who live together under a state. In Nigeria, different ethnic groups were brought together through colonization. Federalism then took its root before independence because it was confirmed by the colonial administrators and subsequent indigenous governments to be the appropriate system of government. Why federalism has not succeeded in managing and accommodating diversity was adequately analyzed by highlighting necessary conditions that have to be in place. These conditions were taken from the historical context of the USA. This is because the USA is the most successful and mature federal state in the world. Conditions such as the independence of constituent actors, desirability and partnership, minimal interference from the international community and a weak central government were extracted and deemed exportable to any part of the world, Nigeria inclusive. This study finds out that the inherent instability highlighted by the absence of these pre-existing conditions are the reasons why federalism has not succeeded in Nigeria despite several years of practice.