Download - Nigeria – Historical Foundations
Nigeria – Historical Nigeria – Historical FoundationsFoundations
Federalist Structure (Muslim Federalist Structure (Muslim North, Christian South) 36 North, Christian South) 36
StatesStates
The Nigerian Nation at a The Nigerian Nation at a GlanceGlance
2. Per Capita GDP Rankings2. Per Capita GDP Rankings
1.1. United States ($37,800)United States ($37,800)
2.2. United Kingdom ($27,700)United Kingdom ($27,700)
3.3. Mexico ($9,000)Mexico ($9,000)
4.4. Russia ($8,900)Russia ($8,900)
5.5. Iran ($7,000)Iran ($7,000)
6.6. China ($5,000)China ($5,000)
7.7. Nigeria ($800)Nigeria ($800)
The Making of the The Making of the Modern Nigerian State (1 of 2)Modern Nigerian State (1 of 2)
The Making of the The Making of the Modern Nigerian State (2 of 2)Modern Nigerian State (2 of 2)
Former Head of State: Former Head of State: President Umaru Yar’AduaPresident Umaru Yar’Adua
Current Head of State: Current Head of State: President Goodluck President Goodluck
JonathanJonathan
Former Head of Former Head of Government: President Government: President
Umaru Yar’AduaUmaru Yar’Adua
Current Head of Current Head of Government: President Government: President
Goodluck JonathanGoodluck Jonathan
Politics in Action (2 of 2)Politics in Action (2 of 2)
LegitimacyLegitimacy Nigeria is a relatively young country, achieving
independence in 1960, this makes establishing legitimate government more difficult
FragmentationFragmentation – tendency in developing countries to fall apart along ethnic, regional, and/or religious lines– Nigeria is diverse religiously, ethnically, linguistically
CorruptionCorruption – Much of the oil money coming into the country goes directly to government officials, not to the people– Patron-client relationships very important
(prebendalism)
Constitutionalism
Nine constitutions drafted since 1914Nine constitutions drafted since 1914– Five under colonial rule and four sinceFive under colonial rule and four since
Military and civilian leaders have felt free to disobey and suspend constitutional principles or change constitutions not to their liking
Colonial EraColonial Era
Britain’s imposition of a federal Britain’s imposition of a federal structure on Nigeria grouped structure on Nigeria grouped together many different historically together many different historically antagonistic ethnic groupsantagonistic ethnic groups
Aggravated tensions when regional Aggravated tensions when regional boundaries coincided with ethnic boundaries coincided with ethnic divisionsdivisions
Over 250 distinct ethnic groupsOver 250 distinct ethnic groups
Divisive Identities: Ethnic Politics Divisive Identities: Ethnic Politics Under ColonialismUnder Colonialism
Colonial EraColonial Era
Christianity Christianity – British introduction of Christianity – British introduction of Christianity created a divide between Christian and Muslim created a divide between Christian and Muslim areasareas– Islam (Sharia law) dominant in the north, Christianity in the Islam (Sharia law) dominant in the north, Christianity in the
southsouth
Intensification of Ethnic PoliticsIntensification of Ethnic Politics – emergence of – emergence of three dominant groups: three dominant groups: Hausa-Fulani (north), Hausa-Fulani (north), Yoruba (southwest), Igbo (southeast) Yoruba (southwest), Igbo (southeast) – These cleavages generally coincide with geographic These cleavages generally coincide with geographic
cleavagescleavages (reinforcing) (reinforcing)
– British pitted groups against each other to British pitted groups against each other to maintain controlmaintain control
Independence EraIndependence Era The 1The 1stst Republic (1960-1966) Republic (1960-1966)
– British Westminster model British Westminster model Biafran Civil War and Military Rule (1966-1979)Biafran Civil War and Military Rule (1966-1979)
– Ethnic + political violenceEthnic + political violence The 2The 2ndnd and 3 and 3rdrd Republics (1979-1999) Republics (1979-1999)
– Presidential system, FPTP, plurality electionsPresidential system, FPTP, plurality elections
– Alternating military, civilian rule (coups)Alternating military, civilian rule (coups) The 4The 4thth Republic (1999 to Present) Republic (1999 to Present)
– 2007 – First peaceful turnover of power between 2007 – First peaceful turnover of power between civilian presidents after electionscivilian presidents after elections
– PDP now dominant political partyPDP now dominant political party
Independence Era (1960-Present)
Parliamentary vs. Presidential SystemParliamentary vs. Presidential System – Nigeria operated under parliamentary system from 1960-1979– Ethnic divisions made parliamentary system difficult – So switched to presidential system with separate
legislature and independent judiciary– But neither has been able to check the power of the
president
Intensification of Ethnic ConflictIntensification of Ethnic Conflict – After independence, Hausa-Fulani (Muslims in North) dominated parliament because of large population
Independence Era continued
Military RuleMilitary Rule A series of coups d’état and rule by military leaders during the A series of coups d’état and rule by military leaders during the
past 50+ years past 50+ years Democratization efforts interrupted by military interventionDemocratization efforts interrupted by military intervention
Economic dependence on OilEconomic dependence on Oil– This has led to corruption and has caused great harm to the This has led to corruption and has caused great harm to the
environment and low levels of legitimacy for govt.environment and low levels of legitimacy for govt. Because of corruption, most Nigerians have not benefited from oil Because of corruption, most Nigerians have not benefited from oil
wealthwealth Government-dominated economy Government-dominated economy
– Collapse of world oil prices in early 1980s caused a crisis for Collapse of world oil prices in early 1980s caused a crisis for the government because nearly all its income was dependent on the government because nearly all its income was dependent on oil (rentier state)oil (rentier state)
Rentier StateRentier State
Structural Adjustment / Structural Adjustment / PrivatizationPrivatization
1980s1980s– Developed structural adjustment Developed structural adjustment
program (SAP) with support of program (SAP) with support of international financial institutions (IMF, international financial institutions (IMF, World Bank)World Bank)
Privatization central to adjustment programPrivatization central to adjustment program– Some parastatals sold offSome parastatals sold off– Intended to generate revenue, reduce Intended to generate revenue, reduce
state expenditures, improve efficiencystate expenditures, improve efficiency– Disappointing resultsDisappointing results
Economic GrowthEconomic Growth
Dependency TheoryDependency Theory
Growing InequalityGrowing Inequality
Steps Toward Steps Toward DemocratizationDemocratization
1995 - New constitution eliminating military rule1995 - New constitution eliminating military rule Freer pressFreer press Regular elections since 1999Regular elections since 1999 Protections for ethnic and religious groups.Protections for ethnic and religious groups. Redrawing of state boundaries to increase Redrawing of state boundaries to increase
representation + more states createdrepresentation + more states created Direct election of presidentDirect election of president Electoral support required from different Electoral support required from different
subnational regionssubnational regions Creation of the Independent National Electoral Creation of the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC)Commission (INEC)
Nigeria in the World of Nigeria in the World of StatesStates
Nigeria has military and economic power in West Nigeria has military and economic power in West African regionAfrican region
Nigeria has significantly increased its importance Nigeria has significantly increased its importance as a regional power through its leadership in the as a regional power through its leadership in the Economic Community of West African States Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)(ECOWAS)
Nigeria forced to seek support from international Nigeria forced to seek support from international financial institutions (IMF, World Bank)financial institutions (IMF, World Bank)– Forced to accept direction from foreign agenciesForced to accept direction from foreign agencies
Influential member of Organization of Petroleum Influential member of Organization of Petroleum Exporting CountriesExporting Countries