Making of the Modern Nigerian State What are some of the key impacts that colonialism and military rule left on the development of the Nigerian state?

Green represents the forests and abundant natural wealth of the country; white stands for peace and unity Surrounded by Benin, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon 168 million people – most populous nation in Africa Unfinished state: characterized by institutional instability and political uncertainty that may render it dysfunctional as a coherent ruling entity

Currency – Naira  $1 USD = 314.75 N; 1N = 0.0032 USD Hub of regional trade, culture, and military strength 60% of country’s GDP comes from Nigeria

Six “Zones” “Core North” – Northwest: Hausa, majority are Muslim Northeast: minority groups (Kanuri), majority are Muslim “Middle Belt” – North Central: minority groups, both Muslim and Christian Southwest: Yoruba, mix of Muslim, Christian, and Yoruba traditional beliefs Southeast: Igbo homeland, Christian “South-south”: southern minorities

Pre-Colonial Period (800-1900) Trade across the Sahara shaped savanna areas of the north Brought Arabic education and Islam Kingdoms and tribes across the territory Jihad “struggle” against non-believers Can refer to sociopolitical corruption or spiritual improvement Kinship lines and communities in the southern parts Acephalous societies “headless” (stateless) societies that lack executive rulership and governed by committee or consensus North Hausa, Kanem-Bornu, Jukun kingdom, Bornu Empire Jihad established the Sokoto Caliphate Used Islam and language Hausa to unite the groups Fulani Empire until British colonization South Tiv lacked political hierarchy but escaped most of the colonialist era Highly centralized Yoruba empire Igbo to the east

Democratic Elements of Pre-Colonial Societies Yoruba and Igbo – principles of accountability and representation Islamic communities – highly structured by Qur’anic principles; hierarchical with women being subordinate Fulani Empire – confederation where emirs owed allegiance to the sultan, and his powers were limited by his duty to observe Islamic principles

Colonial Rule (1860-1960) British colony from 1914 to 1960. Ruled northern and southern Nigeria as two separate colonies. Became Northern and Southern Protectorates in 1914 Indirect rule Local traditional leaders and political structures are surrogates of the colonial governing structure Importance of boundaries: forced different African cultures to live under one political rules; all boundaries were not made with the thought of the people living there, rather by where one European country’s land ended and another began Extraction of African natural resources Indirect rule Strengthened authority of traditional chiefs and kings or appointed warrant chiefs (chosen by British to oversee certain legal matters and assist the colonial enterprise in governance and law enforcement in local areas) and weakened previous practices and local accountability and participation Played off ethnic and social divisions to keep Nigerians from developing an organized political resistance LEFT THE IDEA OF FORMAL DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS WITHIN AN AUTHORITARIAN POLITICAL CULTURE

Colonial Rule(1860-1960) Structured administrative units based on the Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo ethnic groups Ethnicity as main vehicle for political identification and mobilization after independence 1954 – separation into three regions with an elected government National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons Northern People’s Congress Action Group 1954 – fell under majority ethnicity and respective party rule NCNC – aka National Convention for Nigeria Citizens, had members from across the state, associated with Igbo NPC – dominated by Hausa-Fulani elites AG – controlled by Yoruba elites

1945-1979 First Republic Civil War & Military Rule Independence in 1960 Adopted Westminster model Ruled by people in the north Resources unfairly distributed Igbo seized power in 1966 Attempt to create own country called Biafra Military led government tried to hold Nigeria together. Global Oil Boom (1973- 1974) General Olusegun Obasanjo Obasanjo – elected to a civilian government in 1979; retired but emerged as civilian president in 1999 Second and Third Republics and Predatory Military Rule between 1979 and 1999

The Fourth Republic (1999-Present) General Obasanjo Retired all military officers that had political positions in previous military rule Targeted oil sector for management Lobbied foreign government to forgive debts Increased minimum wage. Boko Haram