Drama of Fighting Obscures Emergence of Minority Tribes With Collective Power - Civil war is realigning the politics of Nigeria, putting new power into the hands of the country's small minority tribes. This emergence of the small tribes has been a little noticed political revolution, obscured by the drama of the fighting. But the new politics in Lagos may have as much impact on the future of Nigeria as the war itself. The federal military government is now controlled by a coalition of the minorities and the Yoruba tribe, with the minorities clearly the senior partner. After the war ends, this coalition might stick. Ironically, this is the coalition that Chief Obafemi Awolowo, leader of the Action Group, the Yoruba political party, tried to form when Nigeria became independent in 1960. He failed then, but is succeeding now, and he may become Nigeria's prime minister if and when the soldiers decide to hand the government back to the politicians. Under the present military government, political parties are banned, but political maneuvering is still rampant. Since Nigerian politics have always been tribal, the new politics can be analyzed by surveying the tribal background of the men who have power...

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