THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE, ETHNO-RELIGIOUS PLURALISM AND THE CHALLENGE OF NATIONAL UNITY IN NIGERIA (Published)
This paper highlighted the ethno-religious pluralism and the attendant rivalry and violent conflicts in Nigeria. It also critically analyzed the proposed National Conference (NC) in the light of its potentials in reducing the age-long ethno-religious resentments and sectarian violence that have been tearing the country apart. Although the authors condemned the unilateral and arbitrary amalgamation of January 1st 1914, they believe that a genuine National Conference can solve and undo the mistakes of the past. Using a historical phenomenological approach, it was found that a genuine national conference or dialogue is an inevitable solution to the threat of disintegration in Nigeria
Keywords: Amalgamation, Ethnic groups, Ethno-religious Pluralism, National conference, conflicts.