Abstract
The threat of disintegration has become more imminent in Nigeria than ever before in her chequered history. The threat was arguably more pronounced in the democratic government of Mohammadu Buhari as Nigeria’s President. Many reasons have been adduced by this work as being responsible for the ugly turn of events. These are namely – nepotism, tribalism, ethnicism, religious intolerance, marginalisation, lopsided appointments and uneven distribution of sensitive/critical national offices in favour of a particular ethnic group against others, and a host of other untoward practices capable of disuniting the country. These incidents have been identified as being responsible for human rights denials, violations, abuses, and impunity, with the growing likelihood of consequential genocide, rising agitation for self-determination and separatist struggles by various indigenous groups in the country. The overall aim of this paper is to critically examine the forgoing issues as they relate to – “Understanding Genocide, Self Determination and Indigenous Peoples Rights: Nigeria’s Unity in Question”. Whereas, some of its objectives included identifying Nigeria’s relative stand on human rights issues and to suggest an improvement going forward, having regards to her multiple ethnic, religious, cultural and linguistic structure. This article adopts the doctrinal research method, thereby using both primary and secondary sources of information for knowledge-based conclusions. They include legislation, textbooks, journal articles, online resources and a host of other reference materials. The author makes some findings and exclusively discloses that man was created with an embodiment of rights, however, on his own volition, traded and exchanged some of these rights in his quest for State’s citizenship under the concepts of social contract and modern statehood. Thus, today, man supported by multilateral institutions and democratic tenets is demanding his lost rights from the state, in the face of abuses, violations, denials and ambivalence. The author indicates that Nigeria and Nigerians of certain ethnic groups have come under such rights violations more than ever. The paper concluded sadly that the natural consequence of such heightening state impunity, selective and partial human rights observance, particularly against some ethnic groups would lead to her eventual disintegration. Finally, the author made far-reaching recommendations which if implemented by the Nigerian authorities would be able to stem the tide of separatist agitations and reverse the impending danger of disintegration.