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Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has voiced concern that Nigeria’s failure to internalize the lessons of its Civil War is evident in the growing wave of secessionist movements. He warned that the resurgence of separatist agitations reflects unresolved national issues that continue to threaten the country’s unity.
Speaking at the World Interfaith Harmony Week Conference and Awards at Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Yakubu Dogara emphasized that Nigeria’s failure to achieve effective nation-building since gaining independence has fueled the rise of secessionist movements. He argued that the absence of a cohesive national identity has left room for factions seeking to break away.
Dogara, who was represented by Timothy Golu, remarked, “We have had a number of crises since independence, the worst of which was the civil war from 1966 to 1970. Seems we didn’t learn much from that sordid episode, after all. The evidence of our abysmal failure at nation-building are right under our noses — the formation or the rise of successionist groups such as the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta; Niger Delta Frontier Force; Indigenous Peoples of Biafra; Oduduwa People’s Congress, among others.”
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He further expressed concern over Nigeria’s escalating insecurity, stressing that the nation has witnessed an alarming surge in terror-related incidents since transitioning back to democracy.
He said, “Since 1999, successive administrations have struggled to address the security challenges that have plagued the nation. The Boko Haram insurgency, which started in Borno State in 2009, has evolved into a major international terrorist organization, claiming thousands of lives and displacing over five million people. At one point, Nigeria was ranked the third most terrorized country in the world.”
The former Speaker also underscored the link between Nigeria’s security crisis and the breakdown of law enforcement, which, he said, has emboldened criminals engaging in kidnappings, banditry, and armed robbery. He warned that persistent ethnic and religious conflicts have further aggravated the situation. Dogara attributed these challenges to systemic governance failures and the government’s reluctance to address the socio-economic grievances fueling instability.
Dogara expressed concern over Nigeria’s unfulfilled promise of unity, saying that decades after gaining independence, the country has yet to integrate its diverse ethnic and regional groups. He observed that the failure to foster a sense of belonging among all citizens has resulted in rising secessionist movements, with many communities feeling disenfranchised. He urged leaders to take meaningful steps to address these divisions before they spiral into deeper conflict.
Dogara also stressed the role of religion in nation-building, stating that Nigeria’s religious diversity could play a key role in fostering peace, provided that the country learns to harness the values of both Christianity and Islam to promote unity. However, he warned that without genuine efforts to address the root causes of conflict, the country would continue to face the challenges of insecurity, disunity, and calls for secession.
