Nigeria
"Not all of us will hold government appointments, but all of us can contribute to the new dawn in Nigeria."
-President Olusegun Obasanjo
*Adapted from Comparative Government and Politics by Ethel Wood.
Nigeria: A study in contrasts Strong democracy, susceptible to
totalitarian rule Vast resources, but 70% live in poverty Population split evenly between Islam and
Christianity Dozens of ethnicities within borders.
Public Authority and Political Power
Independent nation since 1960 Dilemma – “National Question”- How
should the country be governed, who should govern and should Nigeria be a nation??
Regional disagreements, hostilities and problem solving with force
Constitutionalism 1st Constitution in 1914, but eight since. Last one introduced in 1995 and heavily
amended. Constitutionalism doesn’t exist (no guiding
sense of principles) Without Constitutionalism, national question
harder to answer.
Legitimacy Low legitimacy Little or no trust in leaders As a colony, relied on British rule of law Independent, military might and
authoritarian rule led to corruption and cynicism.
Nigerians skeptical about their government.
Political Traditions Pre-Colonial Era (800-1860)
Trade connections Early influence of Islam Kinship based politics Complex political identities Democratic impulses
The Colonial Era (1860-1960)
Authoritarian rule
Interventionist state
Individualism
Christianity
Ethnic politics
Independence (1960-present)
Parliamentary style of government replaced by a presidential system
Intensification of ethnic conflict Military rule Personalized rule/corruption Federalism Economic dependence on oil
Political Culture
Patron clientelism
Undeveloped civil society
Tension between modernity and tradition
Religious conflict
Geographic Influence Located in West Africa Population 120 million Ethnic groups divided into Zones:
NW NE Middle Belt SW SE So. zone
Political Change Political Change in Nigeria can be analyzed
by dividing its history into three parts: Pre-colonial Colonial Modern eras
Sources of change have varied, but all had important consequences for modern Nigeria.
Pre-Colonial Era Nigerian geography affected political, social and
economic development. Change occurred through cultural diffusion. Fulani – came to north through jihad. Fulani established Sokoto Caliphate. Caliphate traded with Europeans and put an
organized, central government in place based on religious faith.
South – Christianity dominated Slave Trade in Nigeria
Colonial Era (1860-1960) European Influence with indirect rule Differences between North and South
emphasized. Introduction of western-style education
Literate population Reinforced growing cleavages Economic benefits
Modern Nigeria (1960-present) Socialization in western values 1966 – parliamentary government replaced
by military dictatorship Government changed hands quickly and
violently. Question as to whether Nigeria would
survive as a country
Change and conflict Ethnic identities source of conflict Corruption among political elite General Abacha Promise to transfer power when country was
“stable”. Elections in 1999, Pres. Olusegun Obasanjo. (re-
elected 2003) Democracy?? (elections considered corrupt)
Society and Politics Fragmented society, with important
cleavages based on ethnicity. Ethnicity Religion Region Urban v. rural Social class
Citizen and State Nigeria is not a democracy (yet) Activities in Civil Society showing change:
Press Patron-Clientelism (prebendalism) Voting behavior Attitudes toward government
Political Framework Pre-colonial days: regimes varied by
regions Colonization: authoritarian rule Military style regime emerged in 20th
century Formally: federalist and democratic, but
does not operate that way.
Political Parties Regionally and ethnically based Multiparty system reinforces cleavages
As of election 2003: major parties People’s Democratic party (PDP) All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP)
Elections and Electoral Procedures Vote on three levels: local, state, national
Presidential elections
Legislative elections
Election Fraud
Interest Groups
Labor Unions
Business Interests
Human Rights Groups
National Government Constitutions have provided for three
branches of government, but executive branch dominates policy making.
Currently, neither federalism, nor checks and balances operate and state governments are totally dependent on the central government.
The Executive In 1979, parliamentary system modeled
after Britain replaced by presidential system.
US presidential model followed, including two terms for President.
The Executive Under military rule Patrimonialism
The Bureaucracy Growing civil service Corruption and prebendalism
Para-statals State Corporatism
The Legislature The Nigerian legislature has taken several
different forms since independence, and it has been disbanded a number of times by military rulers.
The Senate The National Assembly
The Judiciary During early years of independence, the Nigerian
judiciary had a good deal of autonomy. Judiciary undermined by military decrees Judges render decisions manipulated by the
government Two notorious cases:
Mshood Abiolao Ken Saro-Wiwa
The Military Strong force behind policymaking in
Nigeria. Distinctions made between “military in
government” and “military in barracks.” Internal discord in military
Policymaking and Current Issues Top down policy making process
Loyalty pyramid
System operates under the assumption that the military and political elite operate with only their self-interest in mind.
Patron-client system
Economic Issues Result of loyalty pyramid is squandering of
Nigeria’s wealth. Deeply in debt, most live in poverty Ethnic and regional hostilities and distrust
of government led to diversion of oil money.
Oil: Strength or Weakness? During 1970’s Nigeria’s oil wealth gave it
international leverage. Member of OPEC Foreign countries rely on Nigeria in times of
Mid-east conflict When oil prices go down: Nigeria suffers.
Structural Adjustment Nigeria relies on international organizations
to help manage huge debt. Structural Adjustment program with World
Bank and IMF – attempted to decrease reliance on oil and improve Nigerian economy.
Para-statals still under state control, no real growth in private economic sector.
“Federal Character” Benefits of Federalism (positive, desirable,
shared power, people represented). In Nigeria, goal is to seek a “federal
character” for the nation. Nigerian Constitution supports this goal. Do Nigerian’s have enough in common to
remain together as a country?
Reforms Since military regime left in 1999:
Public enterprises have been privatized Plan for alleviating poverty in place Public wages increased Some Abacha money returned to state Nigeria’s financial reserves have grown because
oil prices have been more stable in past few years.
A Fledgling Democracy? Are recent reforms stabilizing Nigeria?
Elections may be interpreted to support either an optimistic or pessimistic view for Nigeria’s future prospects.
Experience of democracy
Terms and Concepts Abacha ANPP Biafra Babangida Civil society Constitutionalism Corporatism “federal character” Hausa-Fulani Igbo Indirect rule INEC jihad
Kanuri
Kinship based politics
“loyalty pyramd”
“the National Question”
Olusegun Obasanjo
Para-statals
Patrimonialism
Prebendalism (patron-client)
“true federalism” movement
Yoruba
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