1. Chapter Eighteen
Politics in Nigeria

2. Learning Objectives
18.1 Discuss the challenges faced by Nigeria as a new democracy.
18.2 Describe the fragmentary nature of Nigeria’s political structure in precolonial and colonial times.
18.3 Discuss the contribution of colonial, environmental, and global factors to current conditions in Nigeria.
18.4 List the types of subcultures that exist in Nigeria, and discuss how they affect the political culture.
18.5 List four agents of political socialization.
18.6 Describe and compare the military and educational routes to political positions in Nigeria.
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3. Learning Objectives
18.7 Explain the evolution of Nigeria’s political structure and discuss national versus federal powers.
18.8 List five forms of interest articulation and contrast their strength in the north and south of Nigeria.
18.9 Describe the major parties and their bases of support, and discuss the checkered history of elections.
18.10 Discuss how factors such as oil and ethnic diversity impact economic performance
18.11 Describe the source and forms of Nigeria’s influence in the region and the world.
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5. Country Bio: Nigeria
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6. Politics in Nigeria Nigeria = mega-state in African context
Major Country
Over 1/5th of the people in Africa
World’s largest black population
Petroleum
Standing military force of substance
Over 100 universities
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7. Current Policy Challenges
Nigeria – question of future of country
Ethnic, regional, religious divisions intensifying
1999: Nigeria returned to civilian rule
Wealthy country, fails to provide basic needs: education, potable water, reliable transportation, communications
Ranked one of poorest, most corrupt nations
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8. The Effects of History Enduring Effects of Precolonial Events
Early empires of Nigeria: complex political systems
Colonial Interlude ( )
Conference of Berlin 1884: divided Africa
Nigeria brought together as single entity 1914
Unifying action largely symbolic
Southern and Northern conflict
Modern constitutional development 1922
Created federal system 1954 with 3 regions
Became self-governing
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10. The Effects of History Nigerian Independence October 1, 1960
Conflict tore apart ruling coalition in Western Region
National census
1965: law and order broke down in Western Region over election-related fraud, violence
Military ended First Republic in January 1966 coup
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11. Environmental Potential and Limitations
Conditions Affecting Agricultural production and the Sale of Primary Commodities
British developed Nigerian economy to be compatible with them
South – cocoa, palm oil, timber, rubber
North – cattle, hides, cotton, peanuts
Had to diversify economy
Disease: malaria is debilitating, river-borne diseases, HIV
Population Growth: almost half of population age 15 or less
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13. Environmental Potential and Limitations
Urbanization: rapidly urbanizing, strain on infrastructure, less agricultural labor
Petroleum: accounts for 90% of exports
Geographic Distribution of Natural Resources Political Effects: oil concentrated in Niger Delta, locals protest sharing wealth
The International Environment: third world experience, high debt
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15. Political Culture and Subcultures
Ethnic identity: absence of reliable census data
Hausa-Fulani: mostly northern half of Nigeria
Igbo (Ilbo): southeastern, responsive to western culture
Yoruba: Lagos, Oba, lineage chiefs and British
Religion
Christianity, Islam, traditional institutions
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16. Political Culture and Subculture
The Evolution of Nigerian Nationalism: 3 major sources
Freed slaves, others of African descent from Caribbean
Nigerians who fought for British in WWII
Nigerians who studied in UK, US
Democratic Norms and Values: little tolerance for opposition, support for democracy high
The Political Role of Women: position of women varies immensely
Political Corruption: pervasive
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17. Political Socialization
The family
Polygamy
Kinship, sense of identity
Schools: viewed as important, expected from government
The Mass Media: independent press, radio, TV
The State
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18. Political Recruitment
Northerners dominated leadership of country under military, civilian rule
Military power
Role of Nigerian universities
Civil service
No recruitment of strangers
Federal character of appointments of military personnel
Ethnic politics still dominate
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20. Political Structure The Development of the Constitution of 1999
Election of 1993
Succession of military regimes
Federalism: established 1954
Self-governing: Eastern, Western, North
All levels derive funds from national oil monopoly, money distributed by national government
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23. Political Structure Parliamentary versus Presidential Government
Pluralism, lack of trust by subcultures
No institutional structure can overcome roadblock
Judiciary
Federal, state courts integrated into single system of trial, appeals courts
Independent judiciary survived throughout military regimes
Traditional authorities maintain greatest influence in judicial role
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24. Interest Articulation
Ethnic and Religious Associations
Associational Groups
Trade unions
Professional organizations
Civil society groups
Nonassociational groups
Kaduna Mafia
Patron-Client Networks
Clientelism
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25. Political Participation
Great range in activity
Voting: 52% 1999, 69% 2003
Violence, political party thugs
Rise in honest, responsive institutions
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26. Parties and Elections
National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCGC): nationalist party 1944
Regional Parties:
Northern People’s Congress (NPC)
All People’s Party (APP)
Alliance for Democracy (AD)
1993: party activities banned, except 5 artificially created parties
1998, 1999 elections: parties required to show nationwide organization
Ethnic Solidarity and Party Loyalty: drives political organizing
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30. Policy Formation and Implementation
Extractive Performance
Fiscal system
Revenues from oil
Distributive Performance
Potential to be rich, but remains poor
Education
Dealing with Debt and Structural Adjustment
Regulative performance
The Census issue
Conclusions on Performance
Curse of oil
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33. Nigeria in Africa and in the World
Has population, resources to be regional power, substantial military power
Economic Community of West African States
Free trade zones
Critic of international organizations’ monetary policy: World Bank, IMF
France: closer economic ties
US, Britain: condemnation of military rulers
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34. Prospects for Development
Political, economic setbacks
Few have gotten rich, too many poor
Oil wealth exacerbates problem because money accrues to national government
Emergence of vigorous private sector
Environmental destruction of oil
Regions unharmonious
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