Colonialism and the Minority Question in Nigeria

The minority question has been an important issue in Nigerian politics, dating back to the colonial era. This article takes a look at the historical and social basis of the minority question in Nigeria. It analyzes how the forces of British colonialism and the logic and contradiction of nationalist strategies for ending colonial rule led to the creation of minorities, the development of minority consciousness and the evolution of minority politics in Nigeria. The central argument is that British colonialism in the 19th and 20th centuries, the nature and character of politics of resistance to colonial rule and post-colonial governance are intimately connected in the evolution, reproduction and sustenance of minority problems in Nigeria. Resolution of the minority question must, therefore, seek a structural and historical approach that addresses the link between colonialism and post-colony in the creation and sustenance of minority problems in Nigeria.