Ethnic Conflicts in Nigeria: A Case of Ife-Modakeke in Historical Perspective

Abstract

Observation from the literature shows that the role of ethnicity as a mobilizing agent is among the most important questions of this century as conflicts linked to ethnicity have led to significant loss of life and injuries in many cities, and become major elements in impoverishment, undermining human security and sustainable urban development. Hitherto, the literature on this issue in Africa is relatively weak in terms of systematically providing empirical evidence to substantiate its claims. The paper present preliminary report of a survey study carried out on urban ethno-communal conflict in Nigeria: the case of Ife-Modakeke. The study shows that given the circumstance that led to the birth of Modakeke; the status of Modakeke and that of its people has always been a source of dispute and conflict due to issues relating to landlord/tenant relationship or indigene/non-indigene issues. In both communities ethnic attachment is high, and, inter-personal relationship among the people of the two communities is not that very cordial. Significant relationship is found between inter-personal relationship and age, age of the youngest child, land ownership, if most important organization belonged to is ethnic organization, and having relative in the other community. Negative relationship is found between ethnic attachment and inter-personal relationships among the people of the two communities. This result suggest that for sustainable peace to be attained there is the need to pursue policies that encourages social integration, as well as policies that discourages strong ethnic attachment and the spread of ethnically related organizations in the two communities.