1. STUDENT NOTES - 1
CH. 6 NIGERIA

2. ESSENTIAL THEMES = NIGERIA IN A NUTSHELL
What has shaped current policy challenges?
1) British colonialism: geography never matched identity
2) Religious, ethnic BOTH pair w/ education and wealth levels
Internal ethnic and/or religious associations/in-fighting: Boko Haram, MEND, MOSOP
3) Rentier state
Exploitation of natural resource undermines indigenous population in Niger Delta
Over 90% of export earnings - price fluctuations, corruption
4) Democratic instability since independence in 1960
4 different attempts to democratize (all ended by coup d'état)
Controlled by military 29 out of 55 yrs.

3. Overview: The Big Picture
System of Government: Presidential System
Distribution of Power: Federal System
Electoral System: Single Member District Plurality
Constitution: Constitution of 1999
Legislature: Bicameral—Senate and House of Rep.
Current Head of State: President Goodluck Jonathan
Head of Government: President Goodluck Jonathan
Current Ruling Party: People’s Democratic Party (PDP)
Major Political Parties: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), Action Congress (AC)

4. Why Study Nigeria? LDC trying to democratize HDI rank 153
The Economist Democracy Index ranking = 120/167 (Iran 158; Mexico 51; UK 16)
History of colonialism, military rule, parliamentary democracy & presidential democracy – they enjoy variety…or they’re trying to find what works
Ethnic/Religious/Regional Cleavages
Constitutionalism – eluding Nigeria so far
Largest population in Africa (174 mil)
Federalism
Resource curse (oil)
Patron-Client Relations (Prebendalism)

5. Geography
Located in Western Africa, it is the center of the areas regional trade, culture and military strength.
It is bordered by four countries: Benin, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.
Its natural resource of oil makes it a hub of activity.
Nigeria’s current day borders was an arbitrary creation reflecting British colonial interests.

6. Population
Nigeria, with 174 million people, ranks as the most populous nation in Africa.
The northwest is dominated by the largest ethnic group, the Hausa-Fulani.
The north are predominantly Muslim.
The Southwest is dominated by the country’s second largest group, the Yoruba.
The Southeast is the homeland of the Igbo, Nigeria’s third largest group.

7. The North
Hausa-
Fulani
The West
Yoruba
The East
Igbo

8. Big Ideas to Keep in Your Head !
No Cross Cutting Cleavages
Ethnic, Regional, and Religious Coincide
No National Identity!
Nigeria is only 50 years old
Country created because of colonialism
Parliamentary system failed…why?
Presidential system is working…why?

9. Sovereignty, Authority, and Power
Legitimacy
Newly independent (1960)
The sole stable national institution is the military
Only truly NATIONAL institution is disciplined and able to make decisions efficiently and effectively
Leads to legitimacy of military’s right to rule
Most leaders have been generals
Extremely low legitimacy of government, overall – never been stable
Massive corruption, distrust of government

10. Sovereignty, Authority, and Power
COLONIAL PERIOD: ( )
British establish colonial enterprise based on exploitation of natural resources
Divided northern and southern regions
Further reinforced ethnic/religious cleavages
FIRST REPUBLIC: (60 – 67)
Parliamentary system w/ Muslim PM
Military coup and Biafran War
SECOND REPUBLIC (79 – 83)
Obasanjo brings democratic reform
Coup by Muslim general
Patterned after American system
THIRD REPUBLIC (92 – 93)
Aborted/short-lived attempt at democratic elections
FOURTH REPUBLIC (1999 – present)
Obasanjo democratically elected president

11. Influence of British Rule
British moved into Nigeria with a combination of government control, religious mission, and economic incentive
Deepened ethnic and regional divisions
Indirect rule in the north (Muslim leaders)
Direct rule in south
Christianity
(Islam already in North from Arab traders)
Western-style education
Mostly in south (Christian missionaries)
Independence – 1960
Westminster Model
Ethnic divisions made it difficult to identify a majority party or allow a PM to have necessary authority

12. Biafra (1967-70) Igbo secessionist state
Desired freedom because they believed the North would always dominate because of their larger numbers (Igbo are the smallest of the big-three ethnicities)
Three year civil war resulted in over a million deaths
Yakubu Gowon, a Middle-Belt Christian came to power to lead a Nigerian unity government to stop the secession

13. Sovereignty, Authority, and Power
Elected leadership in 1960, overthrown in military coup in 1966
3 more coups by 1976, Olusegun Obasanjo takes power
Willfully steps down for democratically elected president in 1979
2 more coups by 1985, when Ibrahim Babangida takes power
Resigned under public pressure in 1993 when he promised to step down for civilian leadership, then voided the election
Sani Abacha ( ) rules brutally, dies of a heart attack (maybe poisoned?), replaced by Vice President Abubakar
Obasanjo elected for 2 terms ( )
Umaru Yar’Adua elected in 2007
All elections finished with concerns of fraud, violence, etc.

14. Ibrahim Babangida
Military President, 1985 – 1993
Resigned

15. Sani Abacha
Military President, 1993 – 1998
Died in office

16. Olusegun Obasanjo Military President, 1976 – 1979
Resigned for democratic leadership
President, 1999 – 2007
Term limited

17. Umaru Yar’Adua
President, 2007 – 2010
Died and replaced by VP

18. Goodluck Jonathan
President, 2010 – Present