Resurgence of Ethno-Nationalism in South-East Nigeria: Implications for Nigeria National Security, 2015-2023

This Paper is an investigation on the raison d’être for the resurgence of ethno-nationalism in South-East Nigeria and its implications for Nigeria national security, 2015-2023.It examined the factors responsible for the resurgence of ethno-nationalism and ascertains how it has impacted Nigeria’s unity and national security. Data for the study was generated through secondary sources and direct observation. The data obtained was contently analyzed. Also, Elite-instrumentalist perspective on ethnic conflict was used as the intellectual framework of analysis. The paper argues that during Buhari administration there was deliberate systemic alienation, political and economic exclusion and marginalization of the South-East Nigeria in the allocation of national values. This led to resurgence of ethno-nationalism in the region. The paper finds inability of the Buhari administration to deliver good governance, social justices, and protect the region from the violent activities of armed Fulani herdsmen made the people of the geopolitical zone to resort to self-help; that there is a co-relation between ethno-political mobilizations, insecurity, and method of allocation of public resources and resurgence of ethno-nationalism in the region; that the exclusion of the region from key political appointments and in location of projects of infrastructural development made the people feel alienated and marginalized which generated ethnic consciousness and quest for self-determination. Also, the Paper finds that the repressive nature of the Nigeria state; executive recklessness, extrajudicial killings and high level of security sector violence against civilians and unarmed pro-Biafra agitators motivated many young men in the region to join militant groups and strongly contributed to resurgence of ethno-nationalism in the region. The paper recommends among others: that the Nigeria run all inclusive government; treat all as equals in the Nigeria project, convocation of Sovereign National Conference to enable all the ethnic nationalities dialogue on the future of the Nigeria union.