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