This has nurtured ethnic sensibilities which might otherwise have been subsumed by a wider identity as a 'Nigerian citizen'. At the root of current concern for ethnic identity lies, inevitably, the desire for power and money. Political power in Nigeria was vested by British colonialists in the hands of the feudal northern aristocracy and 90 per cent of Government income comes from southern oil sales. It is an explosive combination exacerbated by worsening poverty. No ruler wants to lose their hold on the purse strings.
Ethnic blame is easy to apportion.
But as greedy politicians and generals heighten ethnic awareness, Nigeria's 90 million ordinary citizens quake in their shoes. Tunde's workplace, discarded his Hausa-style clothes in late July. He now sports Western or Yoruba-style dress. Elizabeth Obadina is a freelance writer and journalist living in Lagos.