They date back as far as the 5th century bc, when communities living around the southern slopes of the jos plateau make wonderfully expressive terracotta figures in a tradition known now as the nok culture, from the nigerian village where these. Ghana and nigeria are in the midst of governmentinitiated democratization programs. After independence in 1960, that year nigerians became the citizens of the 4th biggest democratic country in the word nigeria experienced its first military coup in 1966. As observed by nwanolue and ojukwu 2012, the general success of any practicing democracy is deeply incumbent upon three major.
Introduction nigeria and nigerians have been caught in the frenzy of centenary celebration. Accordingly, democracy in nigeria cannot be consolidated amidst high level. First, the spread of islam began a millennium ago, predominantly in the north but later on extended to southwestern nigeria. When democracy is abused, good governance becomes elusive and evasive. History of nigerian constitutional development the. After nigeria gained independence in the year 1960, the country experienced its first military coup in the year 1966. Problems and prospects of the evoting option idike, adeline nnenna, a department of public administration and local government university of nigeria, nsukka email. Democracy in nigeria has been a mere political desideratum hanging on a limping utopia adewusi, 2011. Notwithstanding the above, the nigerian democracy in recent years has taken on a new turn for the better. Learn when the country became a republic and how its democratic path. Watch through police body cameras how police caught chris watts, family killer, with body language. Education education in british colonies and former colonies. The choice of that date and the political significance it has acquired are due. Schumpeter cited in ukase 2014 sees democracy as a method by which decisionmaking is transferred to individuals who have gained power in a.
One of the many factors shaping it is the history of the country in question. Islam reached nigeria through the borno empire between 1068 ad and hausa states around 85 ad during the 11th century, while. History of democracy in nigeria and when did nigeria. Numerous ancient african civilizations settled in the region that is today nigeria, such as the kingdom of nri, the benin empire, and the oyo empire. Thus, even if the specific design for democracy may fail, the democratic project in these west african states may nevertheless be progressing. This is because so far, the country has been unable to hold free, fair and credible elections. This paper compares the different settings, reasons, strategies, procedures. In 1996, as nigeria struggled with democracy, south africa adopted a bill of rights that promotes racial equality.
On may, 29th 1999 the country restored civil democratic rule after a protracted military rule that lasted for more than three decades. Nigeria is the fourth world largest democracy with a population of over 160 million and world sixth largest oil supplier and blessed with economic potentials, but majority of the nigerian population is poor due bad governance. The erosion of good governance by the practice of democracy has deepened the crisis of democracy. Department of history and international studies, ekiti state university, adoekiti, ekiti state, nigeria 2.
Nigerias flag consists of three equal vertical bands of green, white, and green. Nigeria is currently enjoying the 16 th consecutive year of democratic governance for the first time in her postcolonial history after the military handed over power to the olusegun obasanjo led administration on may 29 th 1999, democracy in nigeria witnessed a rather smooth change of power from one civilian led administration to the other as was seen in 2007 when then president obasanjo. The nascent democracy in nigeria is plagued with myriad of intrigues. On october 1 nigeria added to its list of vital statistics a new status as the worlds fourth largest democracy. An appraisal of the peoples democratic party pdp sixteen years 2 international journal of research in humanities and social studies v2 i9 september 2015 democracy in the literature is contested and for political science the theorization of the concept of. The civil war then broke out in 1967 and lasted all through 1970. Democracy in nigeria is alien and its practice has proved difficult. The society for the propagation of the gospel in foreign parts, the moravian mission, the mission of bremen, the methodists, and roman catholic missionaries all established themselves on the gold coast. Democracy, political participation and good governance in. The new civil war broke in 1967 and lasted til 1970. In another development, corruption is one of the basic challenges confronting democracy, democratic consolidation and good governance in nigerias fourth republic, however, we.
The implication of nigerian democracy history essay. Department of history and international studies, ekiti state university, adoekiti, ekiti state, nigeria abstract. Everyone expected the return of nigeria to democratic rule will bring about development. Even though nigeria acquired republican status in 1963, the first republic in nigeria began on the 1 st of october, 1960 and came to an end on the 15 th of january, 1966. Freedom of information act and democratic consolidation in. The major donors have been meeting frequently in order to discuss development and debt problems and to devise aid strategies for african governments. Geographical, historical and political profiles of nigeria. In nigeria, a major issue impeding democracy is the selection process of political office holders. More than a quartercentury of narrow authoritarianism under which they had been fed pabulum of shallow, negative dogma had not blunted the. But before that is done, what is democracy and national integration. An analysis grace malachi brown, phd department of history and diplomatic studies faculty of humanities rivers state university of education pmb 5047, rumuolumeni port harcourt, rivers state nigeria. Although the years since nigerias return to civilian rule in 1999 have seen an increased interest in its history and politics, nigeria remains one of the most underresearched african countries. Revolution as the recent histories of nigeria and south africa show, ethnic and racial conflicts can hinder democracy. In nigeria today, there is a seeming danger in our democracy as the.
Freedom of information act and democratic consolidation in nigeria. The mass media and the struggle for democracy in africa. Nnamdi azikiwe became the first president of independent nigeria, with sir. Nigerias rough history shows failure of government policies development programmes, corruption, apathy and nonparticipation of citizens among other things. Many government institutions do not adequately engage with citizens or the private sector and lack the.
Democracy in nigeria problems and prospects information. It identified the problems that have militated against nigerias democratic sustainability in the past to include lack of proper democratic institutions. Democracy in nigeria has come a long way in the past two and half decades with four transitional elections and as many as over 10 million registered voters aremu, 2014. Democracy and electoral process in nigeria politics essay. Thus, this paper examines civil society and democratic governance in nigeria s fourth republic from the caboose of history. Jean herskovits is professor of history at the state university of new york at purchase and spent 18 months of the transition in nigeria. The history of nigeria can be traced to prehistoric settlers nigerians living in the area as early as 1100 bc. Therefore, this paper examines democratic consolidation and challenges of legislative politics in nigeria from 19992011.
Thomas chukwuma ijere democracy and development in nigeria. Several dominant themes in nigerian history are essential for understanding contemporary nigerian politics and society. As soon as the movement for democracy spread out across nigeria, there was a surge of intense interest in the meaning of the word democracy, in its history and its practical implications. In the british colonies, as elsewhere, religious missions were instrumental in introducing europeanstyle education. It also analyzes the challenges facing democracy and the process of democratic experiment in nigeria, with historical analysis of first fourth republic. John dewey may have been the most wellknown and influential philosopher to impact education to date theobald, 2009. We have essentially in the study, identified some of the features of the progress made in democratic consolidation in nigeria within the period of focus 1999 2015. University of nigeria virtual library serial no isbn. Methodologically, data for this paper were generated mainly from secondary sources of recorded human documents. The importance of a constitution in any given society cannot be overemphasized. In the first republic, the last governorgeneral of nigeria, dr.
Political leadership and corruption in nigeria since 1960. The paper concludes that for democracy to achieve its goals there is the need for the government. Analysing the democracy and democratic practise in nigeria. Pdf democracy and democratic experiment the nigerian. Democracy day marks the day the military handed over power to an elected civilian government in 1999, marking the beginning of the longest continuous civilian rule since nigerias independence from colonial rule in 1960. This article examines the challenge of democracy and development in nigerias oilrich niger delta, using the example of delta state, 19992014. It is also the worlds eighth largest producer of crude oil and has been the united states second largest supplier for six. Tafawa balewa serving as the first and only prime minister of the country the government of the first republic did not last as it came to a halt via several coup attempts with the first.
Until june 6, 2018, it was held annually on may 29. Pdf on may 14, 2012, erunke canice esidene and others published democracy. Author 2 author 3 title the legislature and democracy in nigeria keywords description the legislature and democracy in nigeria category social science education publisher library cataloguing in publication data publication date. This may be responsible for what rawls 1971 describes as the origin of the current. The challenge of democracy in africa history with mr. However the history of democracy, economic development and welfare for citizens in nigeria has been that of disappointment kalu, 2004.
Conflicttriggered by political competition and communal, ethnic, religious or resource allocation rivalriesposes a major threat to democracy. We reiterate that democracy and development cohabit and inactivity of the former destroys the later. The federation comprises 36 states and 1 federal capital territory, where the capital, abuja, is located. Democracy day is june 12, a national public bank holiday in nigeria. Practice, problems and prospects adeyinka theresa ajayi1 and emmanuel oladipo ojo2 1. For nigeria democracy to move toward democratic consolidation and good governance in fourth republic, we urge incoming administration to follow the following prospects. Tough words, but those who know ikhide know that he can be unapologetically melodramatic and.
First, the spread of islam, predominantly in the north but later in southwestern nigeria as well, began a. Democracy and governance in africa africas continuing reliance on foreign aid has increased the opportunities for bilateral and multilateral aid agencies to influence policy making in the region. Download fulltext pdf download fulltext pdf the impact of military rule on democracy in nigeria article pdf available december 2012 with 51,388 reads. These exemplary steps towards democracy in west africa were not secluded to the region, nor were they the first in africas long history. The most significant dates in nigerias political history are 1914, 1960 and 1967. Prospects and challenges preye kuro inokoba department of political science niger delta university, p. Its southern coast is on the gulf of guinea in the atlantic ocean. It operates the presidential system of government with three distinct but complementary arms namely the executive, the legislature and the judiciary, each acting as a check on.
A true democracy is a sine qua non for the development of all sectors of any countrys economy. There are roadblocks to a strong democracy in nigeria at all levels of government. Its meaning and dissenting opinions of the political. Journal of nigeria studies volume 1, number 2, fall 2012 political leadership and corruption in nigeria since 1960. The 2015 presidential election and campaigns was highly characterised by acrimony and name. The state of democracy in nigeria the guardian nigeria. Challenges facing democracy in nigeria and solutions. The constitution, in nigerias situation, is the supreme law of the land which all acts of individuals and of parliament must not contravene. Nation of the world have different system of government that is being practiced which ranges from monarchy, aristocracy, democracy just to mention in few, but history will never be completely written if the system of government was not included in the history of the nation. They came not from any doctrine that the people, all free members of the clan, have a right to rule when they became elders an elder was sworn into office by popular vote, but from the feeling that an end.
Education education education in british colonies and former colonies. It was then possible to restore the democratic model for a couple of years in 1978. Some of the issues that will be discussed in this article are the concept of rule of law, democracy and development, shortcomings of democracy and development in nigeria. The history of nigeria before independence in order to understand the current nigerian politics and society, three dominant characteristics need to be taken into account. The 2003 elections were billed as a landmark as it was the first time since independence in 1960 that political leadership changed hands from one. It is the fundamental and organic law of a nation or state that establishes. Deweys beliefs about democracy, community, and problem solving, guided the development of his social and educational philosophies. It interrogates and illuminates the changes and continuities in the activities of civil society groups as it impinge on the pursuit of, and delivery of the dividends of democracy to nigerians. Supported by usaids electoral empowerment for civil society program, ndi worked with local partners in nigeria at the center for democracy and development to outline what happened online during the election and identify solution driven responses through fact checking, media literacy and research into the online environment. Instead of democracy, what has been perfected in nigeria, as at today is kleptocracy. Criticism and the growth of democracy in nigeria 2.
Of the three, october 1, 1960 is the most relevant to our discussion for two reasons. Pdf the impact of military rule on democracy in nigeria. An important feature of this system is the supremacy of the national or common interest, which must supersede personal interest ibagere and omoera, 2010. Criticism and the growth of democracy in nigeria 1. Wednesday last week was a public holiday because, according to the federal government, 29the may is democracy day. For ikhide, democracy has, far from doing nigeria good, set the country back decades and provided a perfect alibi for the political class to bankrupt and bury the country once and for all. The british high commissioner to nigeria paul arkwright says great steps have been taken towards genuine democracy in nigeria since the return of civilian rule in 1999. Nigeria contains more historic cultures and empires than any other other nation in africa.
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