Excellent article by Obadare. What is missing here is a note on the extreme parochialism in Nigeria. There is a lack of buy-in to the notion of a unified state. The local strongman’s stranglehold on local politics ensures that their little slice of power weakens the state in toto. The state is seen as a resource to bilk not a place to invest either, money, time, or energy. The deep corruption of elites in Nigeria also stems from participation in what are called “Cults.” These are confraternities, that are one part criminal organizations and one part magical fantasy. Typically, elites join while in university with an ever-increasing step into violence and crime. The most notable "Cult" is the Black Axe, a criminal organization based in Nigeria with an international reach. As long as “Cults” fuel corruption and violence in the political system, the Nigerian government will find a hard time mobilizing state power to defend itself from a myriad of existential threats.
As the Nigerian state enters an existential grey zone, there are questions that ought to guide scholarly debate, even as they stimulate fresh policy thinking, writes Ebenezer Obadare.
