Ethnic Plurality and Democratic Process in Nigeria (1999-2011) (original) (raw)

Developing Country Studies Ethnic Plurality and Democratic Process in Nigeria (1999-2011

Ethnic plurality is a feature of modern day states, and Nigeria, like many other states in the world, comprises more than two ethnic groups that make up of the state. The ethnic groups in Nigeria have been in struggle for the control of state power, with attendant impacts on the democratic train as observed in the Nigerian fourth republic. This paper therefore, shall examine the linkage between ethnic plurality and democracy by reviewing the nature of power struggle among the various ethnic groups in Nigeria. Similarly, the paper shall examine the effects of the power struggle among the ethnic groups on the voting behaviors of Nigerians, and how democratic dividends are spread across the various ethnic groups through the processes and principles of governance. In conclusion, the paper will offer suggestions on how the relationship among the ethnic groups can be strengthened to enhance the survival of Nigerian democracy.

Ethnicity, Democracy, and Political Instability in Nigeria: An Appraisal

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________ *CorrespondAsian Research Journal of Arts & Social Sciences, 2022

The article examined how ethnocentrism is used to further the interest of petty bourgeoisie leading to political instability in Nigeria. The establishment of elective principle midwifed liberal democratic party system in 1922. The Nigerian National Democratic Party in Nigeria was the first party to be birthed. The electoral requirements for candidates and electorates provided opportunities for the educated elite to hijack the process. The partitioning of the country into three regions-east, north and west in 1945 led to the formation of ethnic based political parties-National Congress Nigeria and Cameroon (east), Northern People Congress(north), and Action Group (west), which gave rise to fierce ethnic competition among the political elite. The political elites fell back to the region to consolidate their power base. The contention for space-dominance became more pronounced. However, over decades, this politics of ethnic acrimony has continued and increased the degree of political instability to the extent that almost all the general elections conducted in the postindependence era have been bedeviled with electoral violence leading to destruction of lives and properties. The study adopted clientelist theory and culture of violence theory in its theoretical underpinning. The study explored qualitative method of data gathering technique. The study unraveled that the competition for political position predicated on primitive accumulation of natural resources promotes ethnic cleavage. The study recommends amongst others that politicians indicted for electoral violence in past and present should be tried in the content court of jurisdiction to discourage political violence in Nigeria.

ETHNICITY, CITIZEN'S PARTICIPATION AND DEMOCRATIC POLITICS IN NIGERIA

Elite Project Writer, 2019

Ethnic pluralism is an albatross to political participation and Nation Building in Nigeria. It has negatively impacted on the country’s democratisation and Nation Building process in a way that political platforms now reflect ethno-national characters while the elites manipulate ethnicity in the quest for political power. Primary and Secondary data were used to show the tendency towards separatist political orientation among key political actors. The paper argued that the various crises generally associated with political participation and competition reflects the fear of possible perpetration of a situation of permanent majority and permanent minorities. It concludes that the above tendencies have greatly hampered political participation and the process of Nation Building in Nigeria and therefore, recommend the restructuring of Nigeria’s governance process; tackling indigenship crisis as well as a Conference of ethnic nationalities as the panacea to the problems that ethnicity have constituted.

Dynamics of Ethnic Politics in Nigeria: An Impediment to its Political System

Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, 2019

Without any form of prejudice, it is a fact that Nigeria is a multi-ethnic state with differences in its socio-political and economic development all of which have resulted in conflicts and counter conflicts. Ethnic politics in Nigeria's political system have come to be a tragic and constant in Nigeria's political system; where one must belong to the mainstream of ethnic politics for political relevance. It depicts attachments to the subnational ethnic groups which threaten to undermine national integration and therefore divide the nation. Significantly, ethnicity in Nigeria was orchestrated by a long period of colonialism, a period which witnessed the ascendancy of the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria to the socio-political domination of other ethnic groups. It was a period when the three major ethnic groups were used by the colonialist as a pedestal for the distribution of socio-political and economic goods. Using a mixed method, this work argues that Nigeria's political problem hinges on the negative consequences of ethnic politics. The paper concludes that if Nigeria's political system must progress, it must be anchored on the need for the review of the constitutional and political structure of Nigeria to restore healthy political competition as opposed to the existing outdated political mechanism imposed on Nigeria by the military under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Ethnic Politics and Democratic Consolidation in Nigeria

International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 2013

Ethnic diversity is not peculiarly Nigerian as other climes have plural composition. Nigeria's party history is fraught with ethnicity. This work appraises the rabid competition amongst multiethnic groups for power and wealth. This has culminated in mutual distrust and suspicion as well as heightened tensions with its attendant implications for democratic consolidation. The corollary of this is the recurring and perennial hydra-headed challenge it poses for Nationbuilding. Democratic tradition which is a sine qua non for development, cannot flourish in an ethnically conflict-ridden polity. This paper analyses the need for democratic sustenance because of its nexus with development. This is particularly imperative as the nation marches towards another democratic drive with palpable fear that ethnicity can scuttle it if not properly managed. It posits that democratic consolidation is not unattainable. The work relies on secondary source of data and concluded by making some useful recommendations.

Nigeria’s Ethnic Pluralism: a Challenge to Political Participation and Nation Building

2017

Ethnicity and Ethnic Politics: An Impediment to Political Development in Nigeria

Nigeria with over 300 ethnic groups, over 1000 dialects, who practiced several religions, with different cultures and histories came under the British imperialist in the 19th century. With the 1st January, 1914 amalgamation of Southern and Northern Protectorate the foundation of a nation now called Nigeria was laid. Nigeria is now populated by over 166 million people, adopted federal system of government with 36 States and a Federal Capital Territory. Despite these component States, Nigeria could still be seen peripherally as a nation with tripodal ethnic structure with the trio of Yoruba, Hausa/Fulani and Igbo constituting a pole each in the unceasing struggle for political and economic resources of the nation. The existing cleavages and hegemonic nature of the Yoruba, Hausa/Fulani and Igbo (major ethnic groups) metamorphosed into a 'monster-seed' germinated into hydra headed monster tormenting and straining the nation's political developments. Apart from inter-ethnic conflicts, there are also intra-ethnic conflicts among these major ethnic groups and other allied minority ethnic groups resulting from unending political manipulation, manoeuvrings, calculations and permutation. The study revealed that, the alliances and coalitions between/among political parties to have overall majority needed to win election(s) are based on ethnic sentiments and ethnic gang-up. The study further revealed the attendant effects of ethnic politics to include-emergence of incompetent political leaders who are not committed to the development of the nation; inability to choose leaders with national outlook or national acceptability; disconnected leaders (self-centred/self-seeking leaders); mediocre in governance; and corrupt leaders being supported by ethnic groups. The sentiment attached to the issues of corruption among political leaders has snowballed to a situation whereby corruption has permeated all levels of government in Nigeria, keeping down about 90 million Nigerians in perpetual poverty. It has equally cost Nigerians whooping sum of over £20 Billion Pounds (about $500 Billion) stolen since independence by past leaders of the country and still counting. Money which could have been used to develop Nigeria has vanished to the pocket of the so called ethnic political leaders with their various towns and villages remaining undeveloped. The study recommended that, Nigerian should imbibe the spirit of oneness and stamp out ethnicity in the conduct of affairs of the nation, in order to experience national unity and peace which are essential ingredients for nation's development, progress, stability and national integration.

The Impact of Ethnicity and Religion on the Survival of Democracy in Nigeria

Yar' Adua University Journal of Social and Management Sciences

The paper examines the impact of ethnicity and religion on the survival of democracy in Nigeria. The paper adopts the conflict theory which sees conflict as the struggle between segments of society over valued resources which leads to competition and changes in the social and political arrangements which tend to benefit some groups at the expense of others. Nigeria is a multi ethnic and religious nation with over 250 ethnic groups with the Hausa/Fulani, Yoruba and Igbo as the dominant ethnic groups and Christianity and Islam as the dominant religions. The issue of ethnicity and religion has practically threatened the survival of Nigeria's nursing democracy as a result of mistrust and suspicion between the major ethnic groups on one hand and between the major and the minor ethnic groups on the other in addition to religious bigotry. This has resulted in the sharing of major political offices among the three ethnic groups under an atmosphere of constant suspicion irrespective of the merit involved, with religion also contributing in heightening this tension. Even among the major ethnic groups, the Igbo are already complaining of marginalization for their inability to occupy the position of the president in the country, thus making the situation complex. The paper discovered that the major causes of ethno-religious conflicts include politics, indigene-settler question and religious extremism. The paper among others recommends that election and appointments of political and other public offices should be based on ones capability to deliver the dividends of democracy rather than on ethnic and religious sentiments.

THE EFFECT OF ETHNIC CONFLICTS IN NIGERIAN POLITICS

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT AND SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH REVIEW (IJMSRR), 2020

This work examined the intriguing influence of ethnicity in Nigeria politics and how the various ethnic nationalities cooperatively or competitively pursue their political interests. It reasoned that the struggle to accommodate ethnic differences in politics is one of Nigeria's biggest problems. To understand the nature of ethnic politicking in Nigeria the paper employed Primordialism, Instrumentalism, and Constructivism theories to explore the phenomenon. The paper traced the origin of ethnic conflict in politics to the amalgamation of Northern and Southern protectorates of Nigeria. From there it interrogated how the ethnic struggle for political power has evolved over time to date with its attendant negative impacts on the polity. Formal and informal efforts made in diffusing ethnic driven political squabbles were highlighted and discussed. It contended that ethnic solidarity has been elevated over and above the broader issue of national development. A situation that has enthroned mediocracy, lack of accountability, and pervasive misuse of state resources. The paper relied on secondary sources of information for this work.

Ethnic Plurality and Democratic Process in Nigeria (1999-2011) (original) (raw)

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