Monday, March 9, 2015
Nigeria election: mapping a nation divided
Identify the major ethnic or religious cleavages in Nigeria. Are they largely geographic in nature? What types of problems does this cause for Nigeria as a developing nation? Economically? Politically? Socially? Be specific and use examples from the text to support your explanations
Here is the corresponding article.
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One major ethnic/religious cleavage in Nigeria is the divide between Christians and Muslims. This division, at least to an extent, is geographic in nature; the South is populated mostly by Christians and the North by muslims. This divide causes political, social, and economic tensions. Politically, the cleavage make religion a major issue for candidates for president. According to the article, “ President Goodluck Jonathan came to power with the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in 2011 after winning 59.6% of the vote - with most support in the mainly Christian and animist south - while former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari had most backing in the largely Muslim north. It was the first time a vote had split the country along these lines.” On the other hand, many Nigerians just want a president that supports a freedom of religion.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of economics, most of the oil-producing areas in Nigeria are located in the south, and it also just so happens that the states to the South are also wealthier. According to the article, “[Poverty] is worst in the north - Jigawa state has the highest poverty rate, of 88.5%, while in Sokoto it is 86%.” (See http://time.com/3649223/richest-black-woman-folorunsho-alakija-oprah-winfrey-nigeria/)
Social issues are also divided by region. The north has a much higher percentage of people living in absolute poverty. The south has better health - more people have received vaccinations. The south also has much higher literacy rates. Boko Haram’s attacks also occur mostly in northern Nigeria.
I agree with your claim that the divides are at least somewhat geographic. It is impressive how polarized the nation is in so many regards, but the divisions make sense. The Muslim north has less oil so there is more poverty and terrorist attacks. This divide has social or cultural implications, too, with fewer vaccinated children and lower literacy rates in the north. Such polarization poses many problems for a developing nation. It fosters regionalism instead of nationalism and makes it harder to address national issues. Not only do the regions differ in ideology (Christianity, Islam), but they have different politics, economies, and social conditions. Such differences exist in all countries but Nigeria has extra hurdles as it lacks organization and a long-standing, stable government.
DeleteNigeria is comprised of more than seven different ethnic groups, the largest being the Hausa-Fulani at 29% of the population, the Yoruba at 21%, and the Igbo at 18%. The Muslim population is concentrated in the north, while Christian and animist peoples are mostly found in the south. However, religious groups are not always neatly divided by their ethnic identities. For example, “the Yorubas of the south-west are split between Muslims and Christians.” Ethnic and religious groups are not geographic in nature because there are times when more at least one group of people occupy the same territory. A diverse ethnic composition decreases a sense of nationalism; people living within Nigeria may not be able to communicate effectively with each other due to the language barrier. This further creates an “us-versus-them” mindset. Since the poverty problem is “worst at the north,” and people in the south are typically healthier and more literate, ethnic groups from the north may feel inclined to resort to violence in order to instill political and societal change. The fact that people who are divided religiously also tend to be divided politically. Muhammadu Buhari managed to garner political support from people in northern Nigeria, which is predominantly Muslim. On the other and, Christian and animistic people in southern Nigeria voted for Buhari’s opponent in the the 2011 elections, President Goodluck Jonathan. As the presidential nominee for the People’s Democratic Party, President Jonathan received the majority vote (59.8%) in middle regions of the state. According to the map depicting “Controlling parties by state,” Buhari’s party, the APC, was the majority vote in a select few regions in the southwest and northeast regions. The APGA party, which is not religiously affiliated, only managed to win the majority in one region.
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