Ochendo: An African Journal of Innovative Studies

This paper examines the complex position of the Igbo ethnic group within Nigeria's nation-building project from 1966 to 2025. Employing historical institutionalism and political economy frameworks, the study analyzes the structural factors underlying Igbo marginalization and its consequences for Nigerian federalism. The paper employs a mixed-methods approach of historical analysis, political economy critique, and sociocultural examination to interrogate Nigeria's most persistent national question. Four key periods are analyzed: the crisis years (1966-1970), the era of institutionalized marginalization (1970-1999), democratic exclusion (1999-2015), and contemporary struggles (2015-2025). The research reveals how successive Nigerian governments have systematically excluded the Igbo from political power structures while simultaneously benefiting from their economic productivity. Findings indicate that Nigeria's nation-building project remains fundamentally incomplete without addressing Igbo grievances. The paper concludes with evidence-based policy recommendations for constitutional reform, arguing that Nigeria's stability requires addressing these historical grievances through institutional rather than merely symbolic solutions.

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