The paper explores the link between pre-colonial state culture and political violence
in Nigeria. Relying on secondary sources, the paper demonstrates that pre-colonial
Nigerian groups instituted state cultures that were not only divergent, but also hostile
and violent to each other. Accordingly, the paper argues that the roots of political
violence in Nigeria stems from the violent pre-colonial and colonial state cultures that
have endured up to the present period. It also argues that the tendency by post-colonial
state elite to promote the continuity of pre-colonial and colonial state cultures that
promoted division and violence is an important factor behind Nigeria’s present predicament.
Consequently, the paper concludes that curtailing and preventing political
violence would require a cultural re-orientation that promotes peaceful co-existence
and the implementation of political arrangements that guarantee fairness and inclusivity
to all groups in the country.
Keywords: colonial legacy – gun culture – Nigerian state – pre-colonial kingdoms – political
violence – state culture

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