SEPARATIST TENSIONS IN SOUTH EAST NIGERIA: SYMPTOMS OF GOVERNANCE MALFUNCTION

Abstract

This paper examines separatist tensions in South East Nigeria as symptoms of governance malfunction. It explores how systemic corruption, political marginalization, economic deprivation, and inadequate infrastructure contribute to alienation among the Igbo ethnic group and increase support for separatist movements such as the Indigenous People of Biafra. Relying on secondary data and Relative Deprivation Theory, the study argues that governance failures and limited dialogue have deepened separatist agitation. It recommends inclusive governance, national integration, and political restructuring to address root causes of separatist tensions.