Towards participatory democracy in ogun state, south western nigeria fayomi, oluyemi phd. We should recognise that since inception, there has been arguably little or no rule of law in nigeria, whether under a democratic dispensation or a military dictatorship. We reiterate that democracy and development cohabit and inactivity of the former destroys the later. A study of some selected local government areas in ondo state, nigeria. Constitutional development in nigeria from 1914 till date. May 14, 2014 what are the five hindrances to democracy.
Prospects and challenges preye kuro inokoba department of political science niger delta university, p. Accordingly, democracy in nigeria cannot be consolidated amidst high level. Corruption as a hindrance to economic development in. Conflicttriggered by political competition and communal. Since then, the nature of the democratic project has been the subject of debate in various circles. Over two decades have passed since the third wave of democratization began to roll across. See the problems and prospects of democracy in nigeria.
The return of democratic governance was greeted with widespread jubilation. Omotola, elections and democratic transition in nigeria, 538, on nigeria. The influence of media ownership and control on media. Nigeria is unarguably one of the most influential countries in africa. The nigerian maritime administration and safety agency, nimasa, is committed to the enthronement of global best practices in the provision of maritime services in nigeria. Prior to talking about the challenges facing democracy in nigeria and solutions to them, let us take a quick look into the postcolonial democratic history of nigeria. Democracy has been generally acclaimed as the best protector of human rights amongst all forms of government. All these happen without hindrance by constitution, harassment by authorities or restriction by the law.
The paper highlights the principles of islam and that of democracy and argues that both are incompatible in a multireligious country like nigeria. Democracy, good governance, corruption, human rights, electoral reform. Covenant university, department of political science and international relations, school of social. Democracy took a completely different turn in nigeria from 1999 till date. The welfare of the people is the hallmark of democracy and this is implied in. The paper divide the period into two military and democracy i. This paper is a contribution to the debate on democratization and development in nigeria. An appraisal of the peoples democratic party pdp sixteen years 2 international journal of research in humanities and social studies v2 i9 september 2015 democracy in the literature is contested and for political science the theorization of the concept of. Regime character, electoral crisis, and prospects of electoral reform in nigeria adekunle animashaun. Abstract this paper examined the extent to which the citizens are involved in political activities. They assume erroneously that democracy is its own justification that simply being baptised with the moniker of democracy is sufficient.
Nevertheless, the democracy story in nigeria can be traced to the year 1960. Asked in political science the five fundamental principles on american democracy is based. May 29 th of every year is declared democracy day in nigeria, and it also a public holiday. Pdf political corruption and underdevelopment in nigerian. In africa and nigeria in particular, the last one and half decade have been most commendable as we have witnessed the consolidation of democracy. Democracy and the performance of the nigerian economy aminu umaru lecturer. Pushan dutt, insead professor of economics, the shell fellow of economic transformation march 2, 2016 with economies continuing to rise and fall in the aftermath of the global financial crisis, many investors are looking beyond the promise of fast returns, aiming for longterm growth from less volatile. Corruption and development corruption is the single greatest obstacle to economic and social development around the world1. There is the dearth of vertical and horizontal compositions of unified interests in terms of. But we are at a crossroads, and if we continue with this charade, a nigerlike scenario of. Introduction may 29, 1999 marked a watershed in nigeria s political annals. Godfatherism is a hindrance to democratic consolidation.
Rawlings, kenyas arap moi, nigerias obasanjo, and ultimately 10 others. They were voicing their disillusionment with a failed democracy. Democracy day marks the day the military handed over power to an elected civilian government in 1999, marking the beginning of the longest continuous civilian rule since nigerias independence from colonial rule in 1960. Many government institutions do not adequately engage with citizens or the private sector and lack the capacity to. Democracy and governance in africa democratization in africa. Pdf political thuggery is an aspect of social violence which is devastating in nigerian democracy. They have argued that democracy is yet to be fully entrenched in the hearts and minds of politicians and average citizens alike. Democracy and the performance of the nigerian economy. Pdf challenges to public participation in political processes in.
Democracy in nigeria problems and prospects information. The role of women in politics and in the sustenance of democracy in nigeria christiana o. After the death of the military dictator, general sani abacha in 1998, general abdusalami abubakar who took over governance from him is known to have worked out nigeria s return to democracy or democratic rule. Some of the issues that will be discussed in this article are the concept of rule of law, democracy and development, shortcomings of democracy and development in nigeria. However, how democracy has driven the much needed development. The paper discusses some of the impediments to the institutionalisation of democracy in nigeria after more.
They argue that oil wealth only became a hindrance to democratic. Nigeria brought together women from civil society, media, academia, ethnic religious groups, political. Ogbogu, phd department of public administration faculty of administration obafemi awolowo university ileife, nigeria abstract this study examined the role of women in politics and in the sustenance of democracy in nigeria. The challenge of democratic governance in the african region. Democracy is the government of the people, by the people and for the people. In this respect, his several endeavours add to the wealth of his nation.
This decree indeed proved a hindrance to free speech and press freedom as it was later used as the basis for the trial. Olu awofeso, phd department of political science,obafemi awolowo university, ileife, nigeria abstract. It is therefore the growth in total economic output accompanied by changes in the structure of the economy. Freedom of information act and democratic consolidation in. University of nigeria virtual library serial no isbn. Economic development has to occur after a period of sustained economic growth. The third wave of democracy meant a global diffusion of democratic norms and ideas in hitherto authoritarian states. While it remains true that nigeria is governed by democratically elected leaders at the federal and state levels, nigeria is yet to institutionalise democracy after a century of existence as a political entity. The deliberate idea of overcoming these five hindrances is important because it is the five hindrances that block the door to both the jhanas, and wisdom. Corruption, capitalism and democracy describes how such corruption is damaging to democracy and its institutions, but also how it is checked by the ideal of citizenship expressed in civil society. Democracy, corruption and the rule of law in nigeria. Methodologically, data for this paper were generated mainly from secondary sources of recorded human documents.
Problems and prospects of democracy in nigeria infoguideng. Author 2 author 3 title the legislature and democracy in nigeria keywords description the legislature and democracy in nigeria category social science education publisher library cataloguing in publication data publication date. Poverty and insecurity in nigerian democratic dispensation. Media ownership patterns the ownership of the mass media namely. Evaluative study of the freedom of information act on. Liberal theory of democracy is an interesting theory in this work. Democracy is a system of government in which the citizens exercise power directly or elect representatives from among themselves to form a governing body, such as a parliament.
Aug 08, 2007 rome was not built in a day, and nigeria should be no different. It is important, however, to understand the kind of media freedom in these countries is not in any way comparable with what is known to exist in the u. May 29, 1999 marked a watershed in nigerias political. The role of the bar by yusuf ali san if the idea of the rule of law is understood in the above sense and upheld in that manner in nigeria, it will not be difficult for the nation to be an abode where peace will be in control. The paper adopted content analysis approach to source its data and concluded that democracy is an ingredient of development. Challenges facing democracy in nigeria and solutions. This study evaluates the freedom of information act on journalism practice in nigeria. Jun 10, 2007 in this respect, his several endeavours add to the wealth of his nation. The influence of media ownership and control on media agenda. And that nigerians, dispossessed they may be, will be satisfied with a political concept that, as currently practiced in nigeria, stands empty of its substantive content. Inversely, when health and educational facilities are overstretched as is the case in nigeria, large numbers of the society remain an asset for goods and services but the rest constitute a chronic liability especially during any hardship the country may experience. It must therefore be sustained to evolve and ensure sustainable development. It identified the problems that have militated against nigerias democratic sustainability in the past to include lack of proper democratic institutions.
Therefore, this paper examines democratic consolidation and challenges of legislative politics in nigeria from 19992011. Conflicttriggered by political competition and communal, ethnic, religious or resource allocation rivalriesposes a major threat to democracy. The role of women in politics and in the sustenance of. Since 1999 when civil politics was restored to nigeria, discourse on the appropriate electoral system for the country has been put firmly on the national democratic agenda. Democracy day is june 12, a national public bank holiday in nigeria. The effect of fake news on nigerias democracy within the.
As such, it is an important and very relevant study of the problem of political corruption. Having firmly and solemnly resolve, to live in unity and harmony as one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign nation under god, dedicated to the promotion of interafrican solidarity, world peace, international cooperation and understanding. Democracy is about free choice, it is about given people opportunities to choose their leaders without hindrance, but where obstacles exist, the people can. Democracy day marks the day the military handed over power to an elected civilian government in 1999, marking the beginning of the longest continuous civilian rule since nigeria s independence from colonial rule in 1960. It was the dawn of the fourth republic, a return to. In countries such as nigeria, ghana, sierra leone, zaire, and the central african republic, corruption is so extensive that it is viewed as a way of life. There are roadblocks to a strong democracy in nigeria at all levels of government. This paper investigates the impact of democratic dispensation on the performance of the nigerian economy between 1983 and 2012. The whole thing started from the year1999, when olusegun obasanjo was sworn in as the first democratically elected president of nigeria. Nigerias democratic setbacks may not yet entitle us to reject democracy altogether or to be receptive to military rule. In simple terms, the objective of the paper is to identify and discuss the challenges to democracy and good governance in the country and proffer suggestions for a better democratic nigeria.
Nimasa elibrary the nigerian maritime online library. Democracy in nigeria is being starved of the basic tools for survival. Pdf on jan 1, 20, hilal wani and others published democratisation in nigeria. The buddha said that theyre the nutriments, the food of delusion.
In doing these as well as in their daytoday life, the. Democratic consolidation in nigeria papers in the ssrn. Representative democracy in nigeria introduction democracy is the form of government, in which the people of a country, state or local government area decide how they want to be governed. With the return to civil rule in 1999 in nigeria, hopes were high that the return to democracy will provide the citizenry with the social dividends of democracy. On october 1 nigeria added to its list of vital statistics a new status as the worlds fourth largest democracy. The effect of fake news on nigerias democracy within the premise of freedom of expression abstract the study was conducted to measure the effectof fake news on nigerias democracy within the premise of freedom of expression. Until june 6, 2018, it was held annually on may 29. Introduction may 29, 1999 marked a watershed in nigerias political annals. It is also the worlds eighth largest producer of crude oil and has been the united states second largest supplier for six.
The influence of media ownership and control on media agenda setting in nigeria international journal of humanities social sciences and education ijhsse page 38 3. Nigerias present democratization, which culminated in the countrys fourth republic on may 29, 1999, started amidst great hope and expectations. History of democracy in nigeria and when did nigeria. Thomas chukwuma ijere democracy and development in nigeria. Democratisations third wave and the challenges of democratic. Pdf poverty and insecurity in nigerian democratic dispensation. Democracy is one of the important thing that must have in social, economic and political in nature. This theory is justified due to the fact that, it can help examine analytically the challenges of democratic consolidation in nigerias fourth republic as it designs the systematic structure through which a democratic political system can effectively function. Freedom of information act and democratic consolidation in nigeria. How democracy impacts development nicholas williamson moore word. Poverty is a major challenge to sustainable development and democracy in nigeria.
Democracy has not been able to drive economic development necessary for the wellbeing of. The study adopted both qualitative and quantitative means of data collection. However, fifteen years of uninterrupted democracy, the country has witnessed a. Corruption as a hindrance to economic development in nigeria. This study will also touch all the lacunas of democracy in nigeria. Rome was not built in a day, and nigeria should be no different.
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