The Danger of Tribalizing Governance in Nigeria

By Livy-Elcon Emereonye

Blessed with plentiful resources and vibrant cultural diversity, Nigeria possesses the untapped human potential to shine as a symbol of development in Africa. But what has become of this vast promise? The Nigerian state today is a haemorrhagic patient shackled by tribalism. Governance—meant to unify and uplift—is reduced to a bazaar of ethnic spoils and tribal patronage. Leadership—meant to inspire and build—is replaced by parochial calculations of “our son” and “their son” institutionalizing a dangerous trend of us against them. Appointments, projects, and policies are not instruments of development but tokens of tribal appeasement. This tribalization of governance is not just a flaw; it is a poison coursing through Nigeria’s veins, slowly entrenching distrust, feeding the flame of criminal rivalry and killing the dream of nationhood.

Would it be inappropriate to suggest that the current structure and management of Nigeria represent a federationbuilt on suspicion and based on distrust?

From independence, Nigeria was sold the myth of unity in diversity. Instead, what we got was suspicion in diversity. From the First Republic where tribal political parties carved up the country like butchers at a market stall, to the bloody civil war fueled by ethnic chauvinism, Nigeria has never healed from the wounds of tribal politics. The so-called federal structure is nothing more than a fragile arrangement of tribes coexisting uneasily, each waiting to exploit the state machine when power rotates to their corner with administrative recklessness.

Government appointments are seen not as a search for competence but as a census of ethnicity. Every ministerial list is scrutinized—not for brilliance, but for “who got what.” Every military posting is examined—not for merit, but for “which tribe is favored.” Every national budget is dissected—not for vision, but for “which zone got the lion’s share.” Instead of building a Nigerian identity, our rulers and leaders deepen ethnic suspicion and nurture tribal loyalty above national loyalty.

This explains why Nigerians often trust their tribal groups, associations, and militias more than they trust the state. The government has failed to rise above ethnic gamesmanship; it has instead entrenched itself as the referee of tribal competition.

Tribalism brings a standard of mediocrity that is upheld by nepotism and fanaticism.

Nigeria has some of the brightest minds in Africa yet what governs us is not brilliance, but mediocrity institutionalized through “federal character” and quota systems. A child who scores 250 in an examination is denied admission because his state has “too many qualified candidates,” while another who scores 50 enters a federal university because his state is deemed “educationally disadvantaged.” What madness! This is not affirmative action—it is legalized robbery of merit.

The result? Mediocrity rules. In the civil service, tribal loyalty matters more than competence. In the military, promotions are skewed to favour “our people.” In universities, appointments are less about academic excellence than about tribal arithmetic. In parastatals, contracts are shared to please ethnic overlords rather than to achieve efficiency. How then can a country thrive, when mediocrity is rewarded and excellence punished?

This is the sad reality of the Nigeria state – and it is one of the things that is stagnating the country.

Nigeria has killed meritocracy and elevated incompetence to a position of power, with consequences that could endure longer than expected.

In ruling with impunity selective development and institutionalized Injustice remain the order of the day.

Development in Nigeria is not guided by national needs—it is guided by ethnic greed. Roads are built not to connect markets but to appease regions. Airports spring up not where they are viable but where tribal lords demand. Oil revenues from the Niger Delta fuel luxurious projects in Abuja while the host communities wallow in pollution, poverty, and neglect. Federal projects blossom in certain zones while others are condemned to perpetual underdevelopment.

Consider the lopsided distribution of infrastructure: refineries located in one region while the oil is drilled from another; rail lines selectively expanded to zones of political favour while others rot; dry ports and economic hubs positioned to serve “the ruling tribe” while industries elsewhere collapse.

Appointments mirror the same injustice. Heads of critical agencies—the NNPC, the CBN, the Customs, the Immigration, the Army, the Police—are consistently dominated by appointees from a narrow region, justified by the arrogance of “we are in power.” When protests arise, they are dismissed as “opposition noise.” But this arrogance feeds resentment. It convinces marginalized groups that Nigeria is not their country but an organized system of oppression.

This selective development and biased governance is not just unfair—it is a crime against unity. And crimes against unity always carry heavy consequences.

In a show of tribalism, some people don’t just destroy what they cannot benefit, instead they openly prefer an imbecile amongst them to a genius outside them.

Elections in Nigeria are not contests of policies—they are tribal wars. Campaigns are fought on ethnic slogans: “It is our turn.” “Don’t let their people dominate us.” “Our son must be president.” Parties are nothing but ethnic cartels wrapped in national colors. Voters do not ask about competence or vision; they ask about “which tribe” the candidate belongs to.

This explains the bitterness after every election. When one tribe’s candidate wins, others feel excluded and cheated. Politicians weaponize ethnicity, stoke old fears, and ignite tensions. The ballot box becomes a battlefield of tribes, not an arena of democracy. And when disputes arise, violence follows. This is why Nigeria’s democracy is fragile—because it is not anchored on citizenship but on tribal identity.

In the classical case of robbing Peter to pay Paul, the resources from one place will be used to develop another place, neglecting the geese that laid the golden egg and starving it to die.

Nigeria is not poor by nature; Nigeria is poor by choice—by the choice of tribal greed. With oil, gas, fertile lands, and a vibrant population, Nigeria should be a global power. But tribalized governance has squandered these blessings. Contracts are inflated and awarded to “our people” who abandon them halfway. Subsidies and palliatives are distributed to ethnic loyalists, not to those in need. Investment decisions are warped by political tribalism, scaring away serious investors who crave fairness and stability.

Tribal politics turns wealth into poverty, opportunity into scarcity. Instead of roads, we get potholes. Instead of hospitals, we get mass graves. Instead of power supply, we get darkness. And yet, the ruling elite keeps fattening their tribal bellies while the nation sinks deeper into poverty.

It’s primitive and criminal to concentrate political appointments to one’s ethnic group at expense of others, sacrificing competence on the altar of nepotism; it is destructive to abuse the principle of true federalism, promoting division at the expense of unity.

History does not whisper—it screams warnings. We nearly broke apart in 1967 because of tribal politics. A war that claimed over two million lives was fueled by ethnic suspicion and lopsided governance. Decades later, the same mistakes are being repeated: lopsided appointments, selective development, ethnic militias, separatist agitations.

Nigeria is sitting on a keg of gunpowder. Tribalism is the matchstick. If we do not extinguish it, we will go the way of Yugoslavia, Sudan, Rwanda. Already, signs are everywhere: secessionist chants in the South-East, resource-control cries in the Niger Delta, restructuring demands in the South-West, farmer-herder clashes in the Middle Belt. Every region feels cheated, every tribe feels marginalized, every citizen feels alienated. This is not a federation—it is a cold war of tribes waiting to explode.

Those responsible for the destruction of life and property, regardless of the labels they use, along with their supporters and admirers, will inevitably suffer repercussions for their actions.

To avoid this, the madness must stop.

The cure is simple but requires courage. We must bury tribalism and enthrone meritocracy. Nigeria must return to the principles of justice and fairness. Appointments must be based on competence, not “state of origin.” Development must be based on need and viability, not tribal appeasement. Institutions must be insulated from ethnic manipulation.

Most importantly, Nigerians themselves must rise above tribal sentiments. We must reject leaders who exploit our divisions and embrace those who speak for unity. We must demand a new political culture where elections are battles of ideas, not wars of tribes.

This is not optional—it is survival. For if Nigeria does not kill tribalism, tribalism will kill Nigeria.

The danger of tribalizing governance in Nigeria cannot be overstated. It is the assassin of meritocracy, the architect of injustice, the fuel of suspicion, the father of poverty, and the midwife of rebellion. It cripples institutions, undermines unity, and sabotages development.

Nigeria must choose: unity through justice or disintegration through tribalism. The path we are on leads only to ruin. If we truly desire survival as a nation, we must bury tribal politics once and for all, enthrone fairness, and embrace true nationhood. Otherwise, tribal politics will finish what colonialism began—it will scatter Nigeria into pieces of wasted potential.

We face our decision point at this very moment. Nigeria must act without delay. The choice is stark: justice or chaos, merit or mediocrity, unity or disintegration. And history will not forgive us if we fail.