March 12 – The Nigerian Nation Agenda: Country Briefs Quick-write Notes Jigsaw Homework: 548-end of chapter Take out: Notebook Country Briefs Pen/Pencil

QW: What was meant by the following quotation QW: What was meant by the following quotation? What does it tell us about governing Nigeria? “Nigeria is not a nation. It is a mere geographical expression.” Yoruba Chief Obafemi Awolowo

The Nigerian Nation Northwest Southwest Southeast AKA “The North” Hausa-Fulani Largest ethnic group Predominantly Muslim Northern People’s Congress (NPC) Southwest AKA “The West” Yoruba 2nd largest ethnic group 40% Christian, 40% Muslim, 20% Yoruban Action Group (AG) Southeast AKA “The East” Igbo 2rd largest ethnic group Predominantly Christian National Convention of Nigerian Citizens (NGNG) Three other “minority” zones exist (Northeast, Middle Belt, and the Delta)

DIVERSITY leads to… Fragmentation The tendency to divide along ethnic, linguistic, regional, and/or religious lines Lots of people are watching Nigeria (if it fell apart, it would have major repercussions for the rest of W. Africa) “…as Nigeria goes, so goes the rest of Africa” Over 250 ethnic groups call parts of Nigeria home There are over 400 languages spoken Most can’t speak other languages HF = 29% Yor = 21% Ibo = 18% Ijaw=10%

But why do the divisions exist in an established country?

The North Hausa-Fulani The West Yoruba The East Igbo

The North Hausa-Fulani The West Yoruba The East Igbo

Nigeria - Historical Differences

North vs. South – Historical Differences The North The South Drier Thinly populated More connected to world economy Saharan trade Did not welcome/ allow missionaries Cultural diffusion through trade to the north Fertile Delta More densely populated BUT small communities Very little trade along water before colonization Became a British protectorate Relied on Royal Niger Company

Precolonial Era (800-1860) Early influence of Islam Contact in North Arabic education influenced and replaced traditional customs Sharia Law Kinship-based politics Prevalent in the South Political organization and trade by village/tribe Democratic impulses Developed in South Rulers expected to seek input of community

Nigeria Basics – Sharia States

Colonial Era (1860-1960) Authoritarian Rule was Indirect Individualism South - Regional chiefs left in charge North – Local elites placed in control Divide and Conquer – pitted local rulers against each other to compete for rewards (infrastructure, social needs, bureaucratic appointments) Individualism Created tendency for local rulers to seek personal benefits Christianity Spread through south andwest (vs. Islam in the north) Education only offered through missionary schools Intensification of Ethnic politics Southern elitism (vs. north)

British Legacy Once the British announced they were leaving Nigeria, all semblance of national unity was gone…competition became intense for political power The Big Question: How could Nigeria become truly independent when it had been dependent for so long?

The First Republic (1960-1966) Westminster Model (Parliamentary) The Northerners dominated (with Igbo allies) Originally sought to redress the imbalance from Colonial era Ethnic divisions create unrest Majority could not maintain control PM authority was consistently undermined Descended into military rule Igbo (Biafra) attempt secession (1967-1970) Three civil wars lead to over 1 million deaths Military (Igbo controlled) seized power in ’66 to end fighting in the Western region (among the Yoruba) and to stop corruption and northern abuses

LEADERSHIP TRANSISITON SINCE 1960 YEARS RULER TYPE GOV TRANSITION? 1960-1966 Balewa (PM) Republic FIRST REPUBLIC Military coup; died 1966 Ironsi Mil. Dictatorship 1966-1975 Gowon Military coup; replaced 1975-1976 Muhammed 1976-1979 Obasanjo Replaced by Dem. Elect. Pres. 1979-1983 Shagari Pres. Democ SECOND REPUB

YEARS RULER TYPE GOV TRANSITION? 1983-1985 Buhari Mil. Dictatorship Military coup; replaced 1985-1993 Babangida Military coup; resigned under pressure 1993 (83 Days) Shonekan Pres. Democ THIRD REP Deposed 1993-1998 Abacha Death; Abubakar rules temporarily 1999-2007 Obasanjo FOURTH REP End 2 term limit 2007-2010 Yar’ Adua Died in office 2010 - present Jonathan

4th Republic: 1999 – present Unitary system in a federal guise – An all-powerful government surrounded by weak and bankrupt states Consequence of military rule  Incredibly strong executive branch Weak legislature and judiciary Patronage politics that sap accountability, and undermine the rule of law Accentuate cleavages Rampant clientelism, corruption and authoritarian governing structures

Public Policy: Economics Loyalty pyramid – informal political structure of power Squandered Nigeria’s wealth $30 billion in debt, 60% in poverty, oil revenues go directly to government Since the last military regime (1999) there have been basic fiscal changes: IMF/World Bank ‘Shock Treatment’ Some privatization Scheme for alleviating poverty Restructuring Diversify economy Reduce government spending Financial reserves have grown slowly (finally out of debt in 2006)

But what about the people?

Group-Share You have been assigned a reading packet that includes news relating to a region of Nigeria Read you assigned packet Use SPECIFIC DETAILS from the packet to complete a three-column chart with the following headings: Specific Problems/Issues in Nigeria What has been done? What still needs to be done? After beginning your chart, you will collaborate with a small group to share information from the other reading packets