Abstract
Separatist agitations have been a recurring phenomenon in the political history of Nigeria, with different ethnic groups calling for their separation from Nigeria. However, while there have been different approaches to the study of the factors behind these calls, this research embarks on a historical journey to uncover the origin of separatist agitations in Nigeria's history, with emphasis on its cultural and ethnic dimensions. This study explores how leadership struggles, disputes over resource control, and calls for separation escalated after the amalgamation of 1914, when the Northern and Southern protectorates were merged into one. This scholarly discussion is a cultural history of separatist sentiments and agitations among the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria: Yorubas, Hausas, Igbos, and other minority ethnic groups. The research utilizes an interdisciplinary approach to the subject matter, integrating knowledge and methods from cultural, ethnic, and memory studies. The research employs qualitative research methodologies such as interviews, case studies, and ethnography. Maps of Nigeria in the years 1901,1914,1960, 1963, and 1967 were used to complete the geographical knowledge of the country. The research also made use of primary and secondary sources, and archival materials from the Nigerian national archive in Ibadan were consulted.