Ethnic Pluralism and Power Sharing In Nigeria Democratic Development 1999 – 2014: A Case Analysis of Akwa Ibom State

The main institutional arrangement that has been put in place as the modality for regulating tensions and avoiding divisive politics in Nigeria is known as power-sharing. Power-sharing is the act of providing every significant identity group or segment a fair representation and decision making abilities on common issues and a degree of autonomy over issues of importance to the group such as federal and state character, equity based revenue collection etc. The study therefore, aims at examining ethnicity and power-sharing in Nigeria democratic development drawing from Akwa Ibom State experience from 1999 – 2014. The study adopted a Historical and Descriptive Research drawing data from secondary sources. The study therefore revealed among others that the adoption of power-sharing in political development has helped to enhance a stable democratic government in Akwa Ibom State. The study further revealed that once a person from any of the three major ethnic groups namely; Ibibio, Annang and Oron becomes the governor or deputy governor of the state, he or she tries to ensure that most people in the cabinet are from his ethnic group. It is believed that it power-sharing arrangement is properly followed, it will help Akwa Ibom people to foster unity in diversity instead of ethnic chavaunia. Based on the findings, the study recommended that power-sharing though healthy, should not be sacrificed on the altar of individual capability and performance which is a pillar of development of any society.