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. Usaid recognizes that longterm, sustainable development is closely linked to sound democratic governance and the protection of human rights. More than half of the worlds population now live in a democracy of some sort, although only some per cent of that population reside in full democracies eiu, 2010. The political debate and the struggle for democracy in nigeria. For ikhide, democracy has, far from doing nigeria good, set the country back decades and provided a perfect alibi for the political class to bankrupt and bury the country once and for all. The constitution provides for a bicameral national assembly, which consists of the house of representatives and the.
Islam reached nigeria through the borno empire between 1068 ad and hausa states around 85 ad during the 11th century. Nation of the world have different system of government that is being practiced which ranges from monarchy, aristocracy, democracy just to mention in few, but history will never be completely written if the system of government was not included in the history of the nation. Two factors are identified as being responsible for the inability of democracy to. Nigeria should return to some form of liberal democratic arrangement in. Contending issues and the way forward idike, adeline nnenna, ph.
The study adopted both qualitative and quantitative means of data collection. From the past military rule to the democratic present which is reminiscent of the americalike model of government and election, nigeria has proven itself to be a democratic country. Introduction democracy is a vital instrument that propels political proficiency, economic development and social stability of any nation state. Two personalities were important in this study lord frederick lugard the then governor general, who can be described as the surgeon who performed the merger, and flora shaw later. Changes are very important for political, economic, and social development. One of the most ancient civilizations to have flourished in the world, they were the forerunners in a great many areas, including literature, sports, and politics. Nigeria is now considered to be one of the most democratic countries in africa. The federation comprises 36 states and 1 federal capital territory, where the capital, abuja, is located. By doing so, the king acknowledged he was bound by law, like others, and granted his subjects legal rights.
See the problems and prospects of democracy in nigeria. It must therefore be sustained to evolve and ensure sustainable development. These are the major questions that provoked the reflections poured into this paper. History of democracy in nigeria and when did nigeria. Cosmopolitan democracy, also known as global democracy or world federalism, is a political system in which democracy is implemented on a global scale, either directly or through representatives. On october 1 nigeria added to its list of vital statistics a new status as the worlds fourth largest democracy. It was an effective tool in the hands of the proponents of democracy, to mobilize the ragtag and the bobtail against the smoking guns of the military to return them to their natural habitat. Challenges of democracy and good governance in nigeria democracy has emerged as the best accepted form of government in the contemporary world. Dec 15, 2018 it ranges from economy to general standard of living. Download fulltext pdf download fulltext pdf the impact of military rule on democracy in nigeria article pdf available december 2012 with 51,253 reads. 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. Nigeria is the fourth world largest democracy with a population of over 160 million and world sixth largest oil supplier and blessed with economic potentials, but majority of the nigerian population is poor due bad governance. Equally of note is the strong belief that the major elements of democracy rule of law, political liberty and political sovereignty supremacy of the constitution, stand antithetical to certain islamic injunctions as specified in the quran and hadith. Democracy is the government of the people, by the people and for the people.
Human welfare is defined not only in terms of freedom from hunger and poverty but also respect for individual dignity. This is a major step towards stabilizing and entrenching democracy in nigeria. Identity, institutions and democracy in nigeria abstract ethnicity is a central theme in the analysis of nigerian politics. Jan, 2006 jumoke ogunkeyede, pro democracy activist and eyewitness in oshun state, quoted in ron singer, democracy in the balance. In the briefest possible way, we can offer a preliminary definition of democracy in these terms. The media can never be separated from nigerias long walk to democracy. Although the major aim of these transformations was directed at displacing the nature and character of political leadership, there was also the equally important. This is because so far, the country has been unable to hold free, fair and credible elections. Democracy day in nigeria is being celebrated on the 12th of june this year. Twenty years of south african democracy freedom house. Twenty years of south african democracy executive summary after 20 years of democracy, south africans celebrate that human rights have been realized and that society is transforming. It ranges from economy to general standard of living. Democracy day is june 12, a national public bank holiday in nigeria. Who people are and how authority is shared among them are core issues for democratic theory, development and constitution.
Democracy is a system of rule based upon a government of the people, by the people and for the people. It is important to note that the political system postulated by the athenians was such that. A study of some selected local government areas in ondo state, nigeria. History of democracy in nigeria and when did nigeria became a. Democracy and electoral process in nigeria politics essay. But we are at a crossroads, and if we continue with this charade, a nigerlike scenario of democratic disillusionment may be in the horizon. In nigeria under the babangida regime, 1985 saps led to the usurpation of fiscal sovereignty through the world banks financial aid and resulted in reactionary state control of the judiciary and media, as well as inflation, growing unemployment, a diminished welfare system and human rights abuses ibhawoh, 1999, p. The 2003 elections were billed as a landmark as it was the first time since independence in 1960 that political leadership changed hands from one. Jun 11, 2019 democracy day in nigeria is being celebrated on the 12th of june this year. Apr 29, 20 how important is democratic participation in development.
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. Chairman, members of the committee, thank you for asking me to testify on this most important subject, the development of democracy in africa. Pdf the impact of military rule on democracy in nigeria. Democracy is important because it give citizens equal opportunities to help make laws, vote for leaders and be protected by laws and rights that are in place. The constitution provides for a bicameral national assembly, which consists of the house of representatives. Democracy is really important for the freedom of living. It is also commonly asserted that nigerian political behavior is driven by ethnic. 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. Freedom and democracy are often used interchange ably, but the two. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Introduction in the last half a century, many countries have transited to democracy.
Schumpeter cited in ukase 2014 sees democracy as a method by which decisionmaking is transferred to individuals who have gained power in a. In this post,we shall history of democracy in nigeriaand also a bit of its origin. How important is democratic participation in development. Under the 1999 constitution, executive power is vested in a president who serves as both the head of state and the chief executive, is directly elected to a fouryear term, and nominates the vice president and members of the cabinet. Jumoke ogunkeyede, prodemocracy activist and eyewitness in oshun state, quoted in ron singer, democracy in the balance. Democracy and the performance of the nigerian economy aminu umaru lecturer. Pdf on may 14, 2012, erunke canice esidene and others published democracy in nigeria find, read and cite all the research you need on. In nigeria, a major issue impeding democracy is the selection process of political office holders. Democracy and good governance in nigeria global journals.
Its southern coast is on the gulf of guinea in the atlantic ocean. The paper divide the period into two military and democracy i. It is also important to state that since 1999 when nigeria returned fully to democratic governance, nigerian press has continued to play vital role in sensitizing the public and conveying the opinions of the masses on any action or inaction of the three arms of government. We view the democracy, human rights, and governance drg sector not in isolation but as a critical framework in which. Tough words, but those who know ikhide know that he can be unapologetically melodramatic and passionate in expressing his opinions. Nigeria s democratic setbacks may not yet entitle us to reject democracy altogether or to be receptive to military rule. In order to maintain democracy there should be more than one or multiple parties. Democracy, good governance and sustainable development in nigeria. It is also the worlds eighth largest producer of crude oil and has been the united states second largest supplier for six. The existence of multiparty and elections broadens the concept of democracy. Some cornerstones of these issues are freedom of assembly and speech, inclusiveness and equality. In 1859, reverend henry townsend started the first newspaper in nigeria called iwe irohin in abeokuta, southwest nigeria. The paper adopted content analysis approach to source its data and concluded that democracy is an ingredient of development.
D department of public administration and local government university of nigeria, nsukka abstract it has been highlighted in this study that political apathy is a seemingly innocuous issue in the. It reflects public opinion and mass participation in decision making. It is also the worlds eighth largest producer of crude oil and has been the united states second largest supplier for. Since nigeria became a democratic nation, positive changes are obvious. Abstract this paper examined the extent to which the citizens are involved in political activities. Democracy, good governance and development in nigeria. Moreover, the issue we want to consider today is the role of the press in sustaining democracy in nigeria. By doing so, the king acknowledged he was bound by law.
Click download or read online button to get democracy and the elite in nigeria book now. The history of nigeria can be traced to prehistoric settlers nigerians living in the area as early as 1100 bc. Democracy and the elite in nigeria download ebook pdf. Until june 6, 2018, it was held annually on may 29. Rise and consolidation of garison democracy in nigeria, 1999 2007, abu political scientist, 11. Democracy and the performance of the nigerian economy. Elections can occur without democracy, but democracy cannot endure without elections. The nigerian elections of 200203, friends of nigeria newsletter, 200304.
While there is strong disappointment with the government and its leaders. Why is democracy important why is democracy important. It is recognized as the most appropriate mechanism through which any society should be governed. Yes of course democracy is important, especially in the contemporary world where people can develop their own opinions and when they are aware of their basic human rights.
The crisis of democracy in nigeria journal of psychology. Conventional approaches to ethnic politics in nigeria often assume the existence of stable identities and consistent group motives. Constitution of the federal republic of nigeria 1999. This is the first time the day has been marked on this date. It started in ancient greece, where the word comes from demos people and kratic power, it only had a short life there but was adopted once again in the eighteenth century and has carried on. A democracy is a polity in which collective decisions laws, policies, procedures are the expression, direct or indirect, of the preferences and choices of the collection of equal citizens of the polity.
Democracy in nigeria has been a mere political desideratum hanging on a limping utopia adewusi, 2011. Problems and prospects of democracy in nigeria infoguideng. Importance of democracy in africa august 19, 20 a man casts his vote during malis presidential election in timbuktu, mali, july 28, 20. Overall i feel that democracy is an extremely important part of political systems in the modern age and it gives people the ability to participate and to be free. Everyone expected the return of nigeria to democratic rule will bring about development. 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.
The nascent democracy in nigeria is plagued with myriad of intrigues. Democracy is important because democracy is based on the notion of people. Public authority is expected to play an important role in creating conducive environment to enhance development. Switzerland, many important political decisions on. An important justification for this kind of system is that the decisions made in national or regional democracies often affect people outside the.
The role of the press in sustaining democracy in nigeria. Dear friend, during the covid19 pandemic, independent news is more important than ever. This paper investigates the impact of democratic dispensation on the performance of the nigerian economy between 1983 and 2012. The paper discusses some of the impediments to the institutionalisation of democracy in nigeria after more. And the change carries heavy symbolism for a country that. Regime character, electoral crisis, and prospects of electoral reform in nigeria adekunle animashaun. The united states is strongly committed to advancing democracy, good governance and. Whether direct or representative democracy is used in a government it still gives people these opportunities and makes the system fair for everybody.