Chapter Eighteen Politics in Nigeria. Learning Objectives 18.1 Discuss the challenges faced by...

Chapter Eighteen

Politics in Nigeria

Learning Objectives• 18.1 Discuss the challenges faced by Nigeria as a new

democracy.• 18.2 Describe the fragmentary nature of Nigeria’s

political structure in precolonial and colonial times.• 18.3 Discuss the contribution of colonial, environmental,

and global factors to current conditions in Nigeria.• 18.4 List the types of subcultures that exist in Nigeria,

and discuss how they affect the political culture.• 18.5 List four agents of political socialization.• 18.6 Describe and compare the military and educational

routes to political positions in Nigeria.

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Learning Objectives• 18.7 Explain the evolution of Nigeria’s political structure

and discuss national versus federal powers.• 18.8 List five forms of interest articulation and contrast

their strength in the north and south of Nigeria.• 18.9 Describe the major parties and their bases of

support, and discuss the checkered history of elections.• 18.10 Discuss how factors such as oil and ethnic

diversity impact economic performance• 18.11 Describe the source and forms of Nigeria’s

influence in the region and the world.


Country Bio: Nigeria


Politics in Nigeria• Nigeria = mega-state in African context• Major Country

• Over 1/5th of the people in Africa• World’s largest black population• Petroleum• Standing military force of substance• Over 100 universities


Current Policy Challenges• Nigeria – question of future of country• Ethnic, regional, religious divisions

intensifying• 1999: Nigeria returned to civilian rule• Wealthy country, fails to provide basic

needs: education, potable water, reliable transportation, communications

• Ranked one of poorest, most corrupt nations


The Effects of History• Enduring Effects of Precolonial Events

• Early empires of Nigeria: complex political systems

• Colonial Interlude (1900-1960)• Conference of Berlin 1884: divided Africa

• Nigeria brought together as single entity 1914• Unifying action largely symbolic• Southern and Northern conflict

• Modern constitutional development 1922• Created federal system 1954 with 3 regions• Became self-governing 1957-59


The Effects of History• Nigerian Independence

• October 1, 1960• Conflict tore apart ruling coalition in

Western Region• National census

• 1965: law and order broke down in Western Region over election-related fraud, violence

• Military ended First Republic in January 1966 coup


Environmental Potential and Limitations

• Conditions Affecting Agricultural production and the Sale of Primary Commodities• British developed Nigerian economy to be

compatible with them• South – cocoa, palm oil, timber, rubber• North – cattle, hides, cotton, peanuts• Had to diversify economy

• Disease: malaria is debilitating, river-borne diseases, HIV

• Population Growth: almost half of population age 15 or less


Environmental Potential and Limitations• Urbanization: rapidly urbanizing, strain on

infrastructure, less agricultural labor • Petroleum: accounts for 90% of exports• Geographic Distribution of Natural

Resources Political Effects: oil concentrated in Niger Delta, locals protest sharing wealth

• The International Environment: third world experience, high debt


Political Culture and Subcultures• Ethnic identity: absence of reliable census

data• Hausa-Fulani: mostly northern half of

Nigeria• Igbo (Ilbo): southeastern, responsive to

western culture• Yoruba: Lagos, Oba, lineage chiefs and

British• Religion

• Christianity, Islam, traditional institutions


Political Culture and Subculture• The Evolution of Nigerian Nationalism: 3 major

sources• Freed slaves, others of African descent from

Caribbean • Nigerians who fought for British in WWII• Nigerians who studied in UK, US

• Democratic Norms and Values: little tolerance for opposition, support for democracy high

• The Political Role of Women: position of women varies immensely

• Political Corruption: pervasive


Political Socialization• The family

• Polygamy• Kinship, sense of identity

• Schools: viewed as important, expected from government

• The Mass Media: independent press, radio, TV• The State


Political Recruitment• Northerners dominated leadership of country

under military, civilian rule• Military power• Role of Nigerian universities• Civil service• No recruitment of strangers• Federal character of appointments of military

personnel• Ethnic politics still dominate


Political Structure• The Development of the Constitution of

1999• Election of 1993• Succession of military regimes

• Federalism: established 1954• Self-governing: Eastern, Western, North• All levels derive funds from national oil monopoly,

money distributed by national government


Political Structure• Parliamentary versus Presidential Government

• Pluralism, lack of trust by subcultures• No institutional structure can overcome roadblock

• Judiciary• Federal, state courts integrated into single system of

trial, appeals courts• Independent judiciary survived throughout military

regimes• Traditional authorities maintain greatest influence in

judicial role


Interest Articulation• Ethnic and Religious Associations• Associational Groups

• Trade unions• Professional organizations• Civil society groups

• Nonassociational groups• Kaduna Mafia

• Patron-Client Networks• Clientelism


Political Participation

• Great range in activity• Voting: 52% 1999, 69% 2003• Violence, political party thugs

• Rise in honest, responsive institutions


Parties and Elections• National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCGC):

nationalist party 1944• Regional Parties:

• Northern People’s Congress (NPC)• All People’s Party (APP)• Alliance for Democracy (AD)

• 1993: party activities banned, except 5 artificially created parties

• 1998, 1999 elections: parties required to show nationwide organization

• Ethnic Solidarity and Party Loyalty: drives political organizing


Policy Formation and Implementation• Extractive Performance

• Fiscal system• Revenues from oil

• Distributive Performance• Potential to be rich, but remains poor• Education

• Dealing with Debt and Structural Adjustment• Regulative performance

• The Census issue• Conclusions on Performance

• Curse of oil


Nigeria in Africa and in the World• Has population, resources to be regional power,

substantial military power• Economic Community of West African States

• Free trade zones• Critic of international organizations’ monetary

policy: World Bank, IMF• France: closer economic ties• US, Britain: condemnation of military rulers


Prospects for Development• Political, economic setbacks• Few have gotten rich, too many poor• Oil wealth exacerbates problem because

money accrues to national government• Emergence of vigorous private sector• Environmental destruction of oil• Regions unharmonious


Chapter Eighteen Politics in Nigeria. Learning Objectives 18.1 Discuss the challenges faced by...

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