The Ethnic Trap: Notes on the Nigerian Campaign and Elections, 1978-79 (1981)

The building of a trans-ethnic political space, and a nation that commands the loyalty of the country’s citizens, have been persistent aspirations of Nigerian governments. The 1979 elections demonstrated that, however much political party leaders may seek to build a national following, they are “trapped” by ethnic and other sectional identities. Attempts to build policy-oriented parties, and promote a progressive social agenda, are hostage to the persistence of Nigeria as a conglomerate society