How Nigerian politicians use of ethnicity, religion to win power

Few threats to national stability are as dangerous as the politicisation of identity. In , where ethnic and religious diversity defines social life, politics should have served as a unifying framework. Instead, it has increasingly become a platform for amplifying differences—turning identity into a weapon and peace into a casualty. Politics, by design, is an […]

Few threats to national stability are as dangerous as the politicisation of identity. In , where ethnic and religious diversity defines social life, politics should have served as a unifying framework. Instead, it has increasingly become a platform for amplifying differences—turning identity into a weapon and peace into a casualty.
Politics, by design, is an instrument of order and collective progress. Its primary purpose is to manage diversity, reconcile competing interests, and strengthen social trust. In multi-ethnic societies, responsible politics transcends tribe and creed, emphasising citizenship, fairness, and shared national purpose.
Nigeria’s diversity should have been an advantage. Political leadership was expected to act as a neutral force—building bridges across communities and ensuring that governance reinforced unity rather than division.
Over time, this ideal has steadily eroded. Politics has shifted from a platform of service to a pathway for personal enrichment. Public office is increasingly viewed as an opportunity for access to state resources rather than a responsibility to serve the wider society.
As electoral competition intensifies, political contests are driven less by ideas and policy choices, and more by calculations of personal and factional gain. This shift has weakened ethical restraint within the political class.
When political power becomes closely linked to wealth and privilege, ethical boundaries collapse. The desperation to win elections or retain influence encourages the use of manipulation, misinformation, and inflammatory rhetoric.
In such circumstances, national cohesion becomes secondary. What matters is political survival, even if it comes at the expense of peace and long-term stability.
Ethnicity and religion, deeply embedded in Nigeria’s social fabric, provide powerful tools for political mobilisation. Instead of promoting inclusive narratives, some politicians frame political competition in ethnic or religious terms.
By appealing to fear and grievance, they convert elections into zero-sum struggles. This strategy deepens mistrust among communities and weakens the sense of shared nationhood essential for stability.
Divisive political rhetoric does not end with campaign platforms. Over time, supporters internalise these narratives and reproduce them in daily interactions. Identity becomes a measure of loyalty, while difference is treated as suspicion.
As this mindset spreads, social trust deteriorates. Communities retreat into hardened positions, and coexistence becomes increasingly fragile.
The cumulative impact of ethnic and religious politicisation is a fragile state constantly managing tension instead of pursuing development. Institutions weaken, conflicts recur, and governance loses legitimacy.
A nation divided along identity lines struggles to achieve sustainable peace or meaningful progress.
Nigeria’s challenge is not diversity itself, but its deliberate manipulation for political gain. Responsibility rests largely with a political culture that has prioritised self-interest over collective stability. Reclaiming politics as a force for unity requires ethical leadership, accountable institutions, and a conscious rejection of divisive mobilisation. Without this shift, the cost will continue to be paid in social fragmentation and recurring instability

Salisu Lukman Mai Barno is a Political Analyst and Public Affairs Commentator