Nigeria’s Triple Plague: Tribalism, Nepotism & Favoritism; A Nation Held Hostage by Its Own Fault Lines.

By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by saharaweeklyng.com

“How Ethno-Centric Loyalties and Crony Networks Undermine Unity, Meritocracy, and National Development.”

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, boasts an extraordinary tapestry of cultures, languages and histories. Yet beneath the surface of this diversity lie deep-seated fissures that have repeatedly sabotaged aspirations for national unity, inclusive governance and sustainable development. TRIBALISM, NEPOTISM and FAVORITISM (intertwined and mutually reinforcing) have become the anti-thesis to meritocracy and national cohesion. These twin vices rob Nigeria of competent leadership, breed inequality and fracture the social compact between the state and its citizens.

At its core, tribalism is loyalty to one’s ethnic group, often at the expense of commitment to a wider nation. It manifests in politics, public appointments, economic opportunity and social relations. When coupled with nepotism (the granting of preferences and privileges to relatives and close associates) and favoritism based on personal or communal loyalties, the result is a governance culture that privileges identity over competence. The ultimate victims of this toxic mix are ordinary Nigerians whose talents, aspirations and futures are depersonalized by a system that values connections over contribution.

I. Tribalism: The “Us vs. Them” that Undermines One Nigeria. Contrary to celebratory narratives about Nigeria’s diversity, tribalism has been repeatedly identified as a profound obstacle to nation-building. Scholars and public commentators alike warn that ethnic loyalties often eclipse commitment to the Nigerian state, eroding trust and fostering resentment. Excessive tribalism weakens national unity by promoting “US versus THEM” mentalities that prioritize the interests of ethnic constituencies above the collective good.

A 2025 report on employment discrimination in Nigeria revealed that tribal identity continues to affect job opportunities, with hiring decisions frequently influenced by ethnic considerations rather than professional qualifications. Indigeneity policies and cultural biases create systemic barriers for non-indigenes, entrenching inequality within the labor market.

Renowned Nigerian scholar Professor K. I. Nnoli described ethnic politics as “a struggle among the various ethnic groups for a division of national resources,” a dynamic that has entrenched inequality and undermined democratic processes. Ethnic racism, in his analysis, has “exacerbated corruption in governance, undermined democracy, promoted inefficiency and created false hierarchies in the way we regard and treat each other.”

II. Nepotism & Favoritism: Crony Networks That Starve Meritocracy. Tribalism naturally morphs into nepotism and favoritism when ethnic loyalties dictate access to opportunity. Nepotism (the assignment of jobs, contracts, or privileges to family and cronies) corrodes confidence in public institutions and erodes merit as the measure of competence.

Elder statesman Chief Edwin Clark has publicly condemned nepotism in successive Nigerian administrations, noting that appointments based on ethnicity and personal networks deepen marginalization and erode public trust. According to Clark, such practices have “undermined national unity” by sidelining qualified Nigerians who do not belong to favored groups.

This malign influence is not limited to public administration. Academic analyses describe how clan-centered social structures in Nigeria normalise favoritism, creating fertile ground for corruption. In such environments, officials often gain tacit support from their ethnic networks regardless of the morality or efficacy of their actions, thus weakening accountability.

The consequences are palpable: positions of influence become monopolised by those with the right connections, while the competent but unconnected are systematically excluded. The culture of “YOU MUST KNOW SOMEONE” before securing a job or a contract has become so pervasive that even former President Goodluck Jonathan acknowledged it as a recurring tradition in the Nigerian polity, where ministries are regarded as “big and juicy” spoils to be parceled out among insiders.

III. The Human and Economic Cost. The combined effects of tribalism, nepotism and favoritism extend far beyond politics and they actively cripple national development. Nigeria, despite vast human and natural resources, continues to lag behind global peers in numerous socioeconomic indices.

A troubling academic analysis shows how corruption (often reinforced by tribal and nepotistic networks) has sapped Nigeria’s resource base and retarded growth. Despite more than half a century of oil wealth, Nigeria remains unable to translate its resource endowments into broad-based prosperity. According to research on corruption’s economic impact, decades of graft could have cost the nation the equivalent of tens of billions of dollars that might otherwise have funded infrastructure, healthcare and education.

When access to opportunity, jobs and services is mediated by tribal affiliation or personal networks, Nigeria’s human capital is devalued. Talented professionals, young entrepreneurs, and innovators are often sidelined because they lack the “CORRECT” identity card or patronage, creating a drain on national potential and stoking frustration among youth.

IV. Social Fragmentation and Political Instability. Equally troubling is the social fragmentation that arises from these practices. Tribalism engenders discrimination, marginalization and envy among groups, laying fertile ground for conflict and distrust. Where people feel excluded from the prosperity of their own country because of their ethnic identity, social cohesion unravels.

Scholars have pointed out that tribalism does not merely divide opinion; it entrenches inequalities in education, employment, and access to public services, reinforcing a vicious cycle of exclusion and insecurity. These divisions have, at times, fueled political unrest and violent clashes, as competing groups vie for control of resources deemed essential for survival.

V. Voices of Reason: What Experts and Leaders Say

Professor K. I. Nnoli, a prominent Nigerian academic, warned that “ETHNIC RACISM” and ethnic competition distort access to national resources and social opportunities, creating false hierarchies and inequality within the polity.

Chief Edwin Clark has repeatedly decried the prioritisation of tribal loyalty over merit, arguing that it corroded trust in Nigeria’s institutions and limited the nation’s capacity for inclusive progress.

Traditional leader Wellington Bobo articulated a timeless admonition: “The moment you take an oath of office, you cease to be a tribal champion and become a servant of the entire people.” This statement highlights the moral imperative for leaders to transcend narrow loyalties and embrace national stewardship.

VI. The Path Forward: Reform, Accountability, and National Consciousness

Nigeria’s journey toward an inclusive, merit-based society begins with confronting these ugly realities head-on. Structural reforms must prioritise:

Merit-based Appointments: Institutional safeguards to ensure that jobs, contracts, and opportunities are awarded based on competence, not lineage.

Inclusive Policies: Policies that protect minorities and non-indigenes from discrimination based on tribal identity.

Civic Education: Renewed emphasis on national consciousness that uplifts common identity over sectional loyalties.

Institutional Integrity: Strengthening civil service codes, anti-corruption bodies, and judicial independence to withstand pressures of favoritism.

Above all, it demands moral courage from leaders and citizens alike to reject the politics of division and embrace governance anchored in fairness, justice, and shared prosperity.

Final Note: A Nation at the Crossroads. Nigeria stands at a crossroads. The persistent specters of TRIBALISM, NEPOTISM and FAVORITISM threaten to tear apart the delicate fabric of a nation that should (by virtue of its diversity) be a beacon of unity. These vices have stunted Nigeria’s development, eroded confidence in public institutions, and perpetuated cycles of poverty and exclusion.

Yet, as leaders like Chief Edwin Clark and community voices like Wellington Bobo remind us, identity must never trump nationality. The true liberation of Nigeria lies in creating a society where MERIT is honoured, DIVERSITY is celebrated, and EVERY CITIZEN (regardless of origin) can CONTRIBUTE to and BENEFIT from the nation’s progress.

Only then can Nigeria finally silence the destructive chorus of tribalism and nepotism and fulfill its promise as a united, thriving republic.