The dilemma of nationhood in a multi-ethnic state: Islamic fundamentalism as an aspect of that dilemma within the Nigerian state

Type Thesis

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To posit that Nigeria is a country in search of national identity since attainment of political independence would pass for a sound judgment. The rise of Islamic fundamentalism, in the last 20 years, has introduced a wide range of nuances that further compound the problem. This study focuses on the impact of Islamic fundamentalism on the national identity question in the Nigerian state. Utilizing the resource of the institutionalization of Islamic legal system (sharia) in Zamfara state, this research provides an analysis of Islamic fundamentalism, and designs a framework to account for the phenomenon. The impact of Islamic fundamentalism on the national identity question has been investigated by examining the following research questions: (1) What are the factors responsible for the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in Nigeria? (2) What makes Zamfara state ideal for the sharia experiment? (3) What implications does the rise of Islamic fundamentalism hold for the national identity question within the Nigerian state? The research concludes that any honest attempt to forge a national ethos for the Nigerian state has to include a mechanism that will design and implement inclusive policies, expand the national “resource pie,” and forge some form of partnership between the government and the governed.