Aniagolu-Okoye: How Politicians Weaponise Tribalism for Self-Interest

Dr. Chichi Aniagolu-Okoye, the Regional Director for West Africa at the Ford Foundation, has asserted that what many Nigerians often label as tribalism is, in fact, a tool strategically deployed by politicians. Speaking in a personal capacity during an ARISE NEWS interview on Friday, Dr. Aniagolu-Okoye argued that these ethnic sentiments are exploited to further personal agendas, conceal corrupt practices, and escape accountability.

She clarified that while she acknowledges the existence of prejudice, her primary concern is the deliberate "weaponization of tribalism for political gain," a strategy she believes has been in play since Nigeria's independence. "Politicians realized very quickly that this is something they can use to mobilize the people, even when it is not in the interest of the people," she stated, highlighting how this tactic secures loyalty rather than promoting skilled leadership or improving citizens' welfare.

Expanding on her perspective, Aniagolu-Okoye noted that ethnic identity has historically served as a convenient excuse for politicians to mask their self-serving motives. She contended that genuinely tribal leaders would prioritize competence and community development over personal allegiance. Instead, she observed that numerous public officials appoint loyalists who serve their interests, rather than the populace.

"There’s no question that it has been the biggest scapegoat for politicians," she remarked. Aniagolu-Okoye challenged the notion of true tribalism in governance, pointing out that if leaders were genuinely tribal, states would exhibit healthy competition and a drive to recruit the best talent. However, she argued, positions are often filled by incompetent individuals because "they know that person will do their bidding," leading to the public being "hoodwinked."

She also attributed the perpetuation of this trend to citizens' complacency, explaining that politicians have capitalized on ethnic sentiments for mobilization since independence, even when it contradicted the public good. Aniagolu-Okoye maintained that the core issue is not tribalism itself, but rather "cronyism" and "sentimentalism." She warned that electing unqualified leaders based on ethnic identity ultimately harms everyone, regardless of their background.

"The reason it works is because we are complacent," she said, tracing the issue back to the colonial era where people were encouraged to organize along tribal lines rather than around issues. She emphasized that if an incompetent individual is elected, "everyone is going to suffer because that incompetence is going to show." She added that the historical record shows no Nigerian state has achieved an 'El Dorado' by solely electing leaders from their own ethnic group.

Aniagolu-Okoye further suggested that many Nigerians have lost faith in meritocracy, allowing politicians to exploit ethnic divisions as a diversion from governance failures and to evade accountability. She explained that a politician elected on the premise of being "one of our own" can easily deflect accusations by claiming it's an attack on their ethnic group. "But what we have done in Nigeria is to use tribalism as a tool of manipulation and oppression of the people from our own ethnic groups," she noted, adding that this is forgotten when it comes to service delivery.

Challenging the media's role, Aniagolu-Okoye urged journalists to cease framing every issue as tribalism, arguing that this practice obscures cronyism and corruption. She advocated for using ethnic identity as an internal mirror to foster community development, rather than as an external tool for division. "It’s important that we start calling things what they are, because when you misdiagnose things, you end up not giving the right prognosis," she advised.

Addressing concerns about marginalization, Aniagolu-Okoye asserted that all Nigerian communities possess sufficient resources for their own development if they prioritize local capacity over political appointments. "If people stop worrying about what is being done to them and start looking at what we can do for ourselves... that changes the game," she stressed.

She concluded by stating that a shift in narrative from ethnic loyalty to competence would significantly improve leadership quality, making it harder for politicians to exploit identity politics for personal gain. "What is happening today is that it’s not the best of any ethnic group that is being thrown up; it’s the mediocre," she lamented. She believes that once ethnic groups begin to reject leaders who do not represent their true interests, the quality of individuals put forward for elections will automatically improve.