The Effect Of Ethnic Politics On The Location And Development Of Infrastructural Amenities In Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the effect of ethnic politics on the location and development of infrastructural amenities in Delta State, this is with a view of evaluating the effect and the role ethnic politics has in the development of the state. The quantitative data for the study was collected from 220 selected Delta State indigenes living in the state through purposively stratified and accidental sampling techniques. The qualitative data were collected through Focus Group Discussions (FGD) and In-depth Interviews and were analysed using TextBase Beta. The TextBase Beta helps identify and analyse the strengths and trends of response. The study reveals that there was no significant relationship (x2-val = 4.370, P-val = (.358) not significant at P ≤ 0.05 level) between ethnic politics and the location and development of basic infrastructural amenities in Delta State. Also, the study reveals that there was no significant relationship (x2 val of 1.027, P-val = (.598) not significant at P ≤ 0.05 level) between interethnic politic and increases opposition and rivalry within the political system. However, the qualitative analysis showed that there are relatively enough infrastructural amenities in the various Senatorial Districts in Delta State and that Inter-ethnic politics affects the location of basic infrastructural amenities and location of industries and tertiary infrastructural amenities in the various Senatorial Districts in Delta State. That Inter or ethnic politics leads to increased opposition and rivalry within the political system if not carefully handled and that ethnic politics in Delta State has led to the struggle for control of state resources by the various ethnic groupings in the State.