NIGERIA FEDERALISM AND THE CONTRACT OF GEOPOLITICAL EQUITY IN EAST AND SOUTH GEOPOLITICAL ZONES: EXPLORING THE INTERPLAY OF LOCKE'S PROPOSITIONS

This study was conducted in response to perceived ethnic rivalry in Nigeria. The government of President Muhammadu Buhari is bedeviled with ethnic strife and disgruntled voices against federalism due to the perceived advantage of one ethnic group over another in a plural federal state like Nigeria. Against this backdrop, the study appraised the distribution of federal equity and perception among the indigenous peoples with southern Nigeria. The peoples with southeast and south-south have strongly agitated to call for restructuring due to the nation’s skewed arrangement. This study theorizes the foundation of John Lock’s social contract, especially his treatise on the extent and end of civil government. The study was a qualitative survey. Qualitative data were collected using key informant interviews. Similarly, thematic analysis was performed. The sample size was 32 and purposively determined. Measuring equity in this study, discussants identified disadvantage and less privilege covering areas of distribution of federal appointments in the military, police, national oil companies, and juicy cabinet in the presidency. Indigenous stakes in federal appointments strongly shaped equity perception. However, the participants held that Buhari’s administration disadvantaged the east and south geopolitical zones. Indigenous peoples expressed concern that this disadvantage undermined the federal government. The study recommended the legislative role of the National Assembly as a check and balance of strategic position distribution. This could alleviate distrust and unequal treatment in the federal government