Agitations for Regime Change and Political Restructuring: Implications on National Integration and Development in Nigeria

Abstract

The formation of organizations at global, regional and sub-regional levels among nation-states, especially after the World War II in 1945 was to nip in the bud situation that could escalate into war and promote global peace. It was also to promote political, economic and socio-cultural unity and welfare among member states. It was on this premise that the United Nations (UN), organizations of Africa Union (OAU) now AU, Arab League, European Union (EU), etc were formed to promote unity among nation states. The main thrust of this paper was to analyze the implications of agitation by various ethnic groups on national integration and development in Africa. The paper also x-rays the nexus between leadership failure and development in Nigeria. The study was anchore0d on the structural functionalism theory to address agitations and conflict among ethnic groups in Nigeria. This theory recognizes the need for restructuring the political system that will enable each component unit to function effectively for sustainable development. The study relied on much of the data scooped from secondary sources such as textbooks, internet materials, magazines, newspaper, journals etc. The study found out that agitations and conflict among ethnic groups was threat to national integration and development, citing the case of Indigenous people of Biafra popularly known as IPOB, Niger Delta militant, etc. The paper concluded that national integration was the bedrock to peace and national development in Nigeria. It was also recommended that government should desist from the actions and inactions that are threat to national integration and peace. The study recommended that UJAH Volume 21 No.3, 2020 (Special Edition) 2 Nigerian government should seriously focus on empowerment and investment in youth, through education, skill acquisition and also implementing policy that will eliminate all forms of agitations. The paper equally recommended adoption of regional government and true Federalism to address the problems of national development.