The Biggest Scandal In Tribalism: Nigerian Politicians Vs The People

A FatCat Culture Deep-Dive

Key Takeaways

• Tribalism in Nigeria is not only a political weapon — it’s a cultural inheritance we have never fully confronted.
• Politicians exploit divisions that ordinary citizens unconsciously keep alive.
• Tribal narratives offer psychological comfort but create national poverty.
• Replacing inherited suspicion with intentional unity is one of the highest forms of national self-respect.
• Real change begins with citizens who understand how to rise above emotional manipulation.

            Everyone talks about corrupt leaders. Everyone curses the government. Everyone blames “them” — the people in Abuja, the governors, the godfathers. But very few Nigerians ever ask the most dangerous question of all: Where did our politicians learn tribalism from?

The truth is bitter — they learned it from us. From our jokes. From our stereotypes. From the way we raise our children. From our everyday conversations where we proudly defend our tribe but shame the next person for doing the same.

So before we point at the people in power, we must ask ourselves: What part of this system lives inside me?

We'll Break Down:

1. What Is Tribalism? 
2. Types of Tribalism
3. Why It Matters
4. Psychology Behind Tribal Loyalty
5. How Tribalism Protects Politicians
6. Practical Steps to Rise Above Tribal Manipulation
7. Dos & Don’ts
8. Common Misconceptions
9. The Biggest Political Scandal

WHAT IS TRIBALISM? (DEFINITION & CONTEXT)

          Tribalism, is the emotional loyalty to one’s group that becomes harmful when it limits fairness, opportunity, or collective progress.

In Nigeria, tribalism is not just identity; it’s inheritance, trauma, and protection mechanism. It shapes how people vote, who they trust, and even who they believe deserves a good life.

Tribalism becomes toxic when:

• group loyalty overrides fairness
• suspicion becomes our default setting
• political leaders use ethnicity to shield themselves from accountability
• citizens defend injustice simply because “our person is there”

If your tribe had a bad leader in power, would you hold them accountable — or defend them?

TYPES / KINDS OF TRIBALISM

Nigeria’s tribalism appears in multiple forms:

1. Political Tribalism: Voting for a candidate because of where they come from, not their competence.

2. Economic Tribalism: Hiring, promoting, or supporting only one’s ethnic group in business, contracts, or opportunities.

3. Social Tribalism: Stereotypes, jokes, and assumptions (“Okrika people are wicked o,” “Igbo people will cheat you,” “Yoruba men can’t be trusted”).

4. Cultural Tribalism: Believing one’s traditions, values, and worldview automatically make other groups inferior.

5. Fear-Based Tribalism: Inherited fear rooted in past conflicts and stories, not present realities.

Globally, we see similar patterns in India (caste-driven biases) and Rwanda (post-conflict ethnic suspicion), showing how identity can shape opportunity long after the violence ends.

Which of these forms have you experienced in your daily life?

WHY IT MATTERS

Tribalism is not only a social issue; it is a financial and national development issue.

1. It keeps bad leaders in power

Politicians rely on tribal loyalty to avoid accountability. If every tribe defends “their own,” no one faces consequences.

2. It blocks economic opportunity

Business owners limit who they hire.

Professionals miss opportunities because “they are not from my side.” This weakens innovation and productivity.

3. It prevents national unity needed for development

Countries that grew rapidly — like Malaysia and UAE — reduced identity-based politics and focused on skills and merit.

Has tribal loyalty affected your financial or career decisions positively or negatively?

PSYCHOLOGY BEHIND THE MINDSET

1. Scarcity Mindset: When resources feel limited, people cling to their group for protection. It’s emotional, not logical.

2. Collective Trauma: Nigeria has experienced coups, wars, migration tensions, land conflicts, and political betrayals. Trauma becomes identity, and identity becomes suspicion.

3. Cognitive Ease: It is easier to trust someone who “speaks my language” than to evaluate people based on competence.

The brain chooses shortcuts.

4. Social Reward: Communities praise people who defend the tribe. You gain approval for being “loyal.”

5. Fear of Isolation: Standing against tribalism sometimes means standing against family or community expectations.

Many avoid this conflict.

HOW TRIBALISM PROTECTS POLITICIANS

Politicians Weaponize What Citizens Normalize

          Nigerian leaders do not invent tribalism; they simply scale it. When ordinary people say, “I can’t trust them; they are from X tribe,” politicians hear a green light: Identity is stronger than merit.

This gives them permission to appoint based on ethnicity, not competence — because they know their base will never question them. The same families that reject inter-tribal marriage will cheer when “their son” packs the civil service with cousins. The hypocrisy is complete.

Tribalism Becomes A Shield For Corruption

          When a politician is caught stealing billions, the loudest defence often comes from his own ethnic base: “Leave him; they are witch-hunting our son.” This emotional armour is more effective than any legal team. 

It teaches every aspiring thief in politics one golden rule: secure your tribal flank and you can loot in peace. We saw it in real time—budget padding, contract inflation, ghost workers—all forgiven the moment someone shouts “they hate us!”

Tribalism Destroys National Bargaining Power 

          A divided population cannot negotiate with its leaders. While South-East traders fight for “their slots,” South-West professionals demand “their own share,” and Northern youths defend “their turn,” the political class laughs all the way to Dubai. 

Nigeria’s 200+ million people become 200+ million isolated voices. No unified demand for 24-hour electricity, good roads, or functional refineries—only endless cries of “it’s our turn to eat.”, "It's our turn to rule the country"

It Exports Our Best Brains And Imports Mediocrity

          Every year, thousands of first-class graduates from “wrong” tribes are rejected for federal jobs, scholarships, or promotions. Many give up and japa. The ones who stay often lower their ambitions or switch to tribal patronage networks.

The Result? The civil service, universities, and even private-sector leadership slowly fill with average performers who won the tribe lottery. A nation that chases away its brightest because of language or accent cannot compete in 2025.

It Turns Diversity From Asset To Liability 

          Countries like Singapore, Switzerland, and Canada turned multiple languages and ethnicities into economic rockets by enforcing merit and shared rules. Nigeria does the opposite: we take 250+ ethnic groups and turn them into 250+ excuses for exclusion. 

The same energy used to block “strangers” from contracts could build world-class companies if redirected toward excellence. Instead, entire sectors—banking in Lagos, transport in the North, tech in the East—become ethnic fiefdoms where outsiders need a “godfather” from the right tribe to breathe.

The Economic Cost Is Measurable And Staggering 

          World Bank and IMF studies repeatedly show that ethnic favouritism is one of the strongest predictors of low growth failure in multi-ethnic nations. In Nigeria, tribal capture of industries reduces productivity by an estimated 1–2% of GDP annually. 

That’s hundreds of billions of naira lost every year—not to corruption alone, but to the quiet decision to hire Uncle Chukwudi instead of the more qualified Fatima or Tunde.

Look at the last five major appointments or contracts in your state or sector. How many went to the most qualified person versus the most “connected” person? 

The answer is usually painful, and it explains why we remain stuck.

10 PRACTICAL STEPS TO RISE ABOVE TRIBAL MANIPULATION

1. Audit Your Tribal Biases: Write down your subtle reactions to different tribes: fear, suspicion, superiority, discomfort.

Awareness is the first breakthrough.

2. Challenge Tribal Narratives in Family Conversations: When someone generalizes (“they are wicked,” “they are thieves”), gently ask: “How many people from that group do you actually know?”

3. Diversify Your Circle: Attend events, network, or collaborate across Nigeria.

Exposure reduces inherited fear.

4. Evaluate Leaders Based on Competence Only: Remove tribe from your leadership checklist. Merit must be the only currency.

5. Stop Politicians from Using Tribe to Distract You: Notice when political speeches use “us vs. them.” This is manipulation.

6. Practice Cross-Tribal Empathy: Protect yourself, but don’t mistreat people based on inherited fears. Hold your boundaries, yes, but treat people fairly until their behavior—not their identity—gives you a reason to think otherwise.

7. Build “Identity Awareness” at Work: If you hire or manage people, measure merit, not ethnicity.

8. Learn Nigeria’s Shared History: Understanding the origins of distrust helps you unlearn it. Knowledge breaks inherited fear loops.

9. Use Tribal Neutrality in Conflict: When debates get heated, focus on behaviour, not identity. Example: “This action is wrong,” not “Your people always behave like this.”

10. Hold Your Tribe Accountable: True love is accountability. True loyalty is honesty. Ask your community: “Are we supporting fairness, or just protecting our own?”

Which of these steps can you start this week?

DOS & DON’TS

DO:

• Question your inherited beliefs
• Prioritize merit over identity
• Seek diverse relationships
• Speak up against tribal jokes and stereotypes

DON’T:

• Assume character based on tribe
• Defend corrupt leaders out of loyalty
• Participate in discriminatory hiring
• Use past trauma to justify current actions 

COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS

1. My Tribe’s Suffering Is Unique: Every region in Nigeria has experienced injustice; the forms differ, but the pain is shared.

2. If My Tribe Doesn’t Dominate, We Will Be Oppressed: Dominance is not safety — justice is.

3. Other Tribes Cannot Be Trusted: Distrust is learned, not genetically inherited.

4. Calling Out My Tribe Makes Me Disloyal: Accountability is strength, not betrayal.

THE BIGGEST POLITICAL SCANDAL

          Nigeria’s biggest political scandal is not just happening in government houses — it is happening in our living rooms. In our group chats. In our casual conversations. The leaders we condemn simply reflect the people we have become.

But healing begins the moment we admit this: We are not only victims of tribalism; we sometimes are participants.

There is power in that admission. Because if we helped create the problem, we can help create the solution. And the first step is simple: treat identity as heritage, not a weapon.

Next time: Let The Young Breathe: A Deep Dive On Age Discrimination

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FatCat Glossary

1. Identity Politics: Using ethnicity or group loyalty to gain power rather than competence.

2. Merit-Based Evaluation: Choosing leaders or candidates based on skill, not origin.

3. Scarcity Mindset: Believing resources are limited, causing fear-driven loyalty to one’s group.

4. Collective Trauma: Shared emotional wounds passed between generations.

5. Tribal Neutrality: Responding to issues based on fairness, not identity.

Tools & Resources