Lesson Note POL 122 2019 Nigeria Government and Politics 1960

Constitutional Development since Independence

In 1960, Nigeria was granted political independence as a sovereign state under the 1960 Constitution which provided for a parliamentary system of government, 3 regions (Northern, Eastern and Western Regions). The parliamentary system designed under the 1960 constitution recognized the British monarch as the Head of State with powers to appoint a resident agent- the Governor-General- to exercise executive powers on her behalf while a Prime Minister elected by the federal parliament acted as the Head of the federal Executive Council. In addition, the 1960 Constitution denied Nigeria an effective dominion over its judicial powers as it gave final appellate authority over Nigeria to the Privy Council established by the British Queen instead of the Federal Supreme Court and its judges.

Those fundamental derogation's from Nigeria’s sovereignty and other observed challenges in implementing the Independence Constitution led to the enactment of the 1963 Constitution. Thus, the key features of the 1963 Constitution included the establishment of Nigeria’s 1st republic under a parliamentary system of government by replacing the Governor-General appointed by the British monarch with a President elected directly by members of the Nigerian federal legislature.

The Constitution also took steps to define ‘Nigerian citizenship’ while outlining constitutionally protected rights for citizens and persons in Nigeria. The National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC), then was headed by Azikiwe (who had taken control after Macaulay’s death in 1946), formed a coalition with Balewa’s  Northern People’s Congress (NPC) after neither party won a majority in the 1959 elections. Balewa continued to serve as the prime minister, a position he had held since 1957, while Azikiwe took the largely ceremonial position of president of the Senate. Followed by the UN-supervised referendum, the northern part of the Trust Territory of the Cameroons joined the Northern region in June 1961, while in October the Southern Cameroons united with Cameroun to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon. Then on October 1, 1963, Nigeria became a republic. Azikiwe became president of the country, whereas the Prime Minister Balewa was still more powerful.

  Nigerians long-standing regional stresses resulted to:

v  ethnic competitiveness,

v  educational inequality,

v  economic imbalance, and

v   controversial census of 1962 – 63

In 1966, that Constitution was, however, set aside by a violent military coup d’etat which supplanted the 1st Republic with military dictatorship which lasted for about 13 years including the civil war period (1966-1969), under 4 military Heads of State, ending only in 1979 when General Olusegun Obasanjo military administrator ushered in the 2nd Republic with the promulgation of a new Constitution.

Conflicts were endemic, as regional leaders protected their privileges; the south complained of northern domination, and the north feared that the southern elite was bent on capturing power. In the west the government had fallen apart in 1962, and boycotted the federal election of December 1964 that brought the country to the brink of breakdown. As such, the point of no return was reached in January 1966, when, after the collapse of order in the west following the fraudulent election of October 1965, a group of army officers overthrew the federal government, and Prime Minister Balewa and two of the regional premiers were murdered.

The Presidential Constitution of 1979

The 1979 constitution, though was Federal, was not based on the ‘Westminster’ parliamentary model. A new model, patterned on the ‘Washington Model’ was introduced. On 18 October, 1975, a Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) was inaugurated by the Murtala-Obasanjo regime (Agi: 1986, p.22). The Head of State, General Murtala Muhammed charged the Committee to devise a constitution that would eliminate cut-throat competition, discouraged institutional opposition to the government, establish the principle of accountability, removed over-centralization of power in a few hands (Ibid).

The 1979 constitution provided for presidential system of government whereby the President was the Head of State and Head of Government. The governor was the head of government at the state level. A unicameral legislature was operated at the level while the bicameral legislature system was adopted at the federal level. The National Assembly comprised of the Senate and the House of Representatives. While the former was made up of five senators for each state, the latter was made up of 450 members across the country on population basis. The Judiciary was vested with the judicial power and the Supreme Court was the highest court of order. More importantly, the constitution enshrined principle of separation of powers and check and balances (Falola: 1985, p.33).

It is significant to note that the 1979 constitution was not without flaws. First, the constitution concentrated much power in executive president at the centre. As observes by Falola, the constitution edited out the common people, hence there was hardly accountability to the electorate by politicians. The question of minority was another problem of the constitution. The worst feature of the constitution was the power of the central government to legislate exclusively on matter which could have otherwise delegated to the states. Lastly, the constitution provided that where there is conflict between the Federal and the State on concurrent list, the former should prevail. Hence, the constitution strengthened the central government more than the remaining tiers.

The 1999 Constitution

Nigeria's constitutional development history can be divided into two epochs or generations: the colonial or pre-independence epoch –which covers 6 constitutional instruments (1914, 1922, 1946, 1951, 1954 and 1960) and the post-independence constitutional epochs (encompassing 3 instruments – 1963, 1979 and 1999

( http://www.lawnigeria.com/CONSTITUTIONHUB/Constitution-Making-History.php) While each successive pre-independence constitutional instrument was enacted through an order-in-council of the Privy Council under the authority of the British monarch, their post-independence counterparts were enacted in two ways: an Act of parliament (1963 Constitution) and military decree (1979 and 1999)

The 1999 constitution like that of 1979 was designed by the military regime. Unlike the 1979 constitution which at least was debated one year before it was instituted, the 1999 constitution was an imposition on Nigeria by the military regime. According to Sagay (2000: p.40) the constitution ‘tells a lie about itself…’  Section 4 of the constitution that contains the legislative that renders state Houses of Assembly inferior (Babawale:2006, p.1). Section 11 of the constitution empowers the National Assembly to handle the functions of Houses of Assembly when they are unfit to perform their function. The control of the Nigerian police force is also within the exclusive list of the federal government. The implication of all these is that the constitution has theoretically subjugated the sub-national units to the central government.

 The constitution makes provision for the formation of multi-party system. The 1999 constitution provides for declaration of state of emergency in the federation or any part thereof. The 1999 constitution is entrenched with some military decrees such as land use decree of 1978 and the National Youth Service Corps decree of 1973.

Regional Politics of the First Republic,

In 1954 - 63 British rule recognized three major regions of Nigeria, which were the

v  Western,

v  Eastern and

v  Northern Provinces.

In 1960, Nigerians took their country back from the British Empire. The Great Britain handed the rule of the country to Nnamdi Azikiwe, who was a Governor-General of the region and Sir Tafawa Balewa was elected as a prime minister of Nigeria in 1960. 

In 1963-1967, there were four regions in Nigeria:

v  Northern Region

v  Western Region

v  Eastern Region

v  Mid-Western Region

Politics then was based on regions protecting the interest of their people. The division of Nigeria started by regions immediately they got their independence and then ethnic politics emanated, likewise birth of Regional Politics. Macaulay founded the first political party in Nigeria. His portrait is found on the nation's one naira currency note.

The history of Nigeria has it that the existence of Nigeria as a single unit started way back in January 1, 1914. This was when the first governor general of Nigeria, Sir Lord Lugard, brought about the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates. The amalgamation brought together people of diverse views and various tribal orientations. As a matter of fact some schools of thought welcomed the idea; some developed cold feet, because it raised several questions that they never got satisfactory answers to. The country has not united till date. During the era of Herbert Macaulay, he was nick named snake in the city. Even as a direct grandson of Bishop Ajayi  Crowther still could not handle the situation of divisions played along  with politics as at then. Macaulay was seen as one of the political actors. Bishop Ajayi Crowther was the first man to translate the Bible from English to Yoruba. Macaulay established the first political party in the country called the Nigeria National Democratic Party (NNDP) in 1923. His party was well known even though it was not a formidable force across Nigeria. It resembled national party, but did not achieve much in terms of unifying the different tribal interests.

 Nigeria’s independence was believed to come on a platter of gold, of which different events occurred before the 1960. Despite the British influence on Nigeria, there were some revolts and protests. At first the country revolted against Lord Lugard in 1918, through the Adubi war which was fought in Egba Land presently known as Ogun state.  There was also, the famous Aba women's riot of 1929, protesting against tax payment. Based on the events that took place as at that time was what shaped the political landscape of the country.

The Birth of regional politics emanated as years rolled by, leaders of thought in the country thought about independence. By 1946, Nigeria faced in decolonization and a growth of nationalism with the introduction of regional governments, giving Nigerians more opportunities in the government. That idea was welcomed when it was mooted. Not only that, some citizens saw it as one of the channels of walking out of colonial rule and moving towards liberation. Despite, all this it really did not bring Nigerians together as one country with one voice. It also resulted in the birth of regional politics. The amalgamation of 1914 of which we all know was an imposition from the colony. They never knew the people as having different ethnic groups and also they did not enquire from the people or seek their advice why because to them these are natives, inferior people that they can do anything and get away with that. Today

 Nigerians are still suffering from what the British did to them.

Nigeria is and will never be seen as a nation why because of various ethnic group  in their mist. Some researchers said that Nigeria is made up 250 ethnic groups others said that it is more than that, that it is 350 ethnic groups. Even if it is made up of 2 or three ethnic groups it cannot fit to call a nation why because a nation is historically constituted, stable community of people, formed on the basis of the common possession of four principal characteristics, namely: a common language, a common territory, a common economic life, and a common psychological make-up manifested in common specific features of national culture (Marxism)

further the characteristics of a nation What the British did to them was their own selfishness, Nigerians was never consulted to become amalgamated in 1914 that was and is why  politics are played to favour a particular region over another, even if the region lacked the competence to occupy the political office. Looking at the characteristics of a nation it is clear that it was a mistake emerging various ethnic groups as one Nigeria.

 The Characteristics of a nation:

i. National identity

ii. Common culture

iv. Single government

 v. Religion, history,

vi. Language or

vii. Ethnicity culture,

 viii. Religion,

ix. Common or linking history

x. Language or ethnicity

There was also so much division in the land before 1960. The North did her own things separately, same as the West, East, and South. In order to gain independence in 1950, a conference of delegates from the Northern and Southern parts of the country were held in Ibadan, capital of Oyo state.

Issues bordering on the political future of Nigeria were discussed, a constitutional conference was also held in Lagos in 1957. At that conference, the Northerners stated that they were not ready for independence. This led to a situation where delegates from the other regions jeered delegates from the North. Due to this indifference that lingered on that same year, the Western and Eastern regions introduced self government, self government which is a situation whereby each region has an authority to run its own political and administrative affairs alone. Still in 1959, the North likewise introduced self government.

Regional politics has long been the problems that faced Nigeria today which started long time ago by our forefathers. To further emphasize on regional politics Nigeria had already moved towards the birth of regional politics long time ago, in an interview with a white journalist before his death in January 1966, discussing the speech of late Sardauna of Sokoto and premier of the Northern region, Sir Ahmadu Bello, who emphasized on:

v  the importance of Northernisation policy to Northern people.

v  If there is an opening for a job in the North, it will be given to a Northerner first.

v  if they cannot find a Northerner, that they will give it to an expatriate (that is a white person). 

v  And if can't find an expatriate, that they will give it to another Nigerian but on a contract basis.

v   that it will rather be dangerous for northerner to give a job to other people of other tribes when they have a high number of youths being graduated from school without jobs.

This was what is called sectionalism/tribalism the question here is why the norths alone why not carry everyone along as one Nigeria just the way Nnamdi Azikiwe promoted one Nigeria until his death. What Nigerians is witnessing today from the northerner is not farfetched the administration of president Buhari is exactly the words of Sardauna of Sokoto in the late 60s where every attention is focused on the Northerners. Talking about democracy it is all about carrying everyone along without being biased as our president today is.

On October 1, 1960  Prior to Nigeria's independence, the first national election was held in 1959. The aim of the election was to set up an independent government. The contest saw the emergence of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, a Northerner, as the prime minister. Also, the majority of parliamentary seats were won by Northern politicians.

 Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, promoted regional politics not minding that he was the first prime minister between 1959 and 1966 and was known as the golden voice of Africa due to his impeccable voice, was assassinated in the first military coup of January 1966 Political intrigues and further division. Before 1966, the major parties were the Northern People's Congress (NPC), overwhelmingly dominant in the Northern region and possessing a plurality in the federal House of Representatives; the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC), dominant in the Eastern region and junior partner in coalition with the NPC in the federal House of Representatives; and the Action Group (AG), majority party in the Western region and the leading opposition group in the federal legislature.

It was noted that the policies and platforms of the major parties were similar, generally supporting welfare and development programmes. In the 1959 elections, the NCNC joined in a coalition with the NPC in the federal government. Contestants in the prime minister election included Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa of the NPC, Chief Obafemi Awolowo of the AG and Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe of the NCNC.  Like wise,the first national elections in Nigeria, held on December 30, 1964, were contested by two political alliances: the Nigerian National Alliance (NNA), led by Sir Ahmadu Bello, premier of the Northern region, and the United Progressive Grand Alliance (UPGA), led by Michael Okpara, premier of the Eastern region.

The NNA comprised the NPC, the Western-based Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP), and opposition parties representing ethnic minorities in the Eastern and Mid-Western regions. ''The UPGA included the NCNC, the Action Group, the Northern Elements Progressive Union (the main opposition party in the Northern region), and the United Middle Belt Congress (UMBC). The northerners feared Igbo domination of the federal government and sought support from the Yoruba, while the UPGA accused the Northerners of anti-Southern and antidemocratic attitudes. The election results, announced on January 6, 1965, gave a large majority to the NNA (198 of 267 constituencies). Even before the balloting began, the UPGA charged that unconstitutional practices were taking place and announced that it would boycott the elections, in which only 4 million of the 15 million eligible voters actually cast ballots.

January 4, 1965, President Azikiwe called on Prime Minister Balewa to form a new government. In the supplementary elections held on March 18, 1965, the UPGA won all 51 seats in the Eastern region and three seats in Lagos. This was followed by announcement of an enlarged and reorganised cabinet on March 31 of the same year. Ten months later, based on the political crisis the Balewa government was overthrown, the military assumed power, and on May 24, 1966 all political parties were banned.

 All the infighting among politicians then created crises in the country, particularly in the Western region. There was friction between Sir Ladoke Akintola and Chief Obafemi Awolowo regarding the leadership of the region. As this continued, there was ''Operation wetie,'' which claimed the lives of many people. As Nigeria moved away from this and democracy returned in 1979, the voting pattern by the electorates also reflected regional sentiment. Alhaji Shehu Shagari, who won the presidential election, got over 80% of his votes from the core north where he came from. This pattern has been so even up till the last national election of Saturday, March 28, where President Muhammadu Buhari got a good chunk of his votes from the North.

The only exception to this was the June 12  1993 presidential election where the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Chief MKO Abiola defeated the candidate of the National Republican Convention (NRC), Alhaji Bashir Tofa in his state, Kano. Talking about regional politics because of that IBB annulled the election of Abiola still nothing was done till date.

Politics that is played along with regions will lead Nigerians to nowhere. All we need is the best leader not minding where the person comes from and by giving support the person will help move the nation to a greater height. Regional politics is a cankerworm that destroys nation. If there is anything good in that since 1960 why is Nigeria still among the poorest nation of the world? Nigerians should play a healthy politics that will benefit all, by creating jobs for the youths, eradication of poverty, provision of basic amenities and making sure that people living in the country are well secured in terms of security and order wise.  For more information visit the web belo

https://www.legit.ng/571859-nigeria-55-opernigerias-independence-birth-regional-politics.html

Character of Political Parties,

The character of political parties in Nigeria has been the same, politics along with ethnicity.  Ethnic politics is still striving in Nigeria. The seed of discord that had long been sowed by our forefathers in the 60s, has refused to let go our politicians. The development of political parties in Nigeria started with the Nigeria National Democratic Party (NNDP) by Herbert Macaulay in 1923. It was an ethnic based party that comprised mainly the Yorubas. Therefore, it was unable to achieve most of its objectives and later on collapsed.

Then in 1934 Lagos Youth Movement (LYM) was formed by students and graduates from Kings College and later the name was changed to National Youth Movement (NYM) in 1936. Their founding members are: H.O. Davis, Dr. J. C. Vaughan, Samuel Akinsanya and Ernest Ikoli, Dr.Kofo Abayomi, J. A. Tuyo, Duro Emmanuel, S.O. Sonibare, S. I. Akintola, Obafemi Awolowo, Jubril Martin. The struggle for leadership brought the party to an end  as it became a problem for who will replace the vacant position and in support of  some people they cannot come into an agreement and the party seized to exist. NYM still faced what the first party suffered having to do with ethnicity. F

Furthermore, in 1944 the National Council of Nigeria and Cameroom  (NCNC) formed by Nnamdi  Azikiwe on the advice of Nigerian student union. This party lasted until 1960 when it was changed to National Convention of Nigerian Citizens as a result of referendum by the Southern Cameroons that joined their counterpart. The first president of NCNC was Herbert Macaulay while Nnamdi Azikiwe was the secretary general. The death of Macaulay in 1946 brought Azikiwe as the president.

The party became the first modern political party in West Africa. The party as at then was affiliated to groups and societies such as the tribal union, igbo union, social clubs and trade union. The mouth piece of the party was the Pilot Newspaper owned by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe also in 1946 the Zikist movement owned by the Youth wing was formed while the Militant Movement was led by Mallam H. R. Abdallah. The party was known all over Africa because of its welfarist ideology. Because Azikiwe was occupied in his party in 1959 he was replaced by Dr Michael Okpara as the Premier of the Eastern Region. The party achieved a lot in Nigeria. It formed coalition with the Northern People’s Congress (NPC) to win election that brought the first President and Prime Minister in the first republic. The NCNC protested the shortcoming of Richard constitution of 1946, they also aroused the political conciseness of Nigerians, the party played a significance role in the gaining of independence in Nigeria. It created awareness to the Eastern Region that led to their formation and development of the area.  The NCNC founded the University of Nigeria Nsukka. In fact it was an eye opener to Nigerian Politics.

 This led to the formation of ethnic parties in Nigeria. For instance the formation of Action Group (AG) Party in 1945 by Obafemi Awolowo as the general overseer transforming Oduduwa to a political party and the formation of  Northern People’s Congress (NPC) which was the transformation of Jamiyyar Mutanen Arewa which means the people from north converting them into a political party. There was also the Northern Element Progressive Union (NEPU) formed by Aminu Kano in 1950 still on the interest of the northerners and the United Middle Belt Congress (UMBC) formed in 1955 by Joseph Tarka only for the welfare of the middle belt alone.

Then in the second republic many political parties emerged in 1975 - 1976 which was the continuation of Murtala/Obasanjo regime with the registration of political parties of which five were registered and guided by Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO): National Party of Nigeria (NPN), the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), the Great Nigeria People’s Party (GNPP), and the Nigeria People’s Party (NPP).  There were other parties like the Nigeria Advance Party (NAP) All promised to improve education and social services, provide welfare, rebuild the economy and support private industry, and pursue a radical, anti-imperialist foreign policy. The PRP was notable for expressing socialist ideas and rhetoric. Shehu Shagari, the candidate of the dominant party, the right-wing NPN, narrowly won the 1979 presidential election, defeating Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

The NPN’s party leaders used political power as an opportunity to gain access to public treasuries and distribute privileges to their followers. Members of the public were angry, and many openly challenged the relevance of a democracy that could not produce leaders who would improve their lives and provide moral authority. Even in this climate, however, Shagari was reelected president in August–September 1983, although his landslide victory was attributed to gross voting irregularities. Shagari was not able to manage the political crisis that followed or to end Nigeria’s continuing economic decline, and the military seized the opportunity to stage a coup on December 31, 1983, that brought Maj. Gen. Muhammad Buhari to power.

The character and formation of political parties in Nigeria in the second republic was guided by the politics of the old which was based on ethnic regions.  The third republic was aborted by President Ibrahim Babangida in 1983 – 1989  he also established  two political parties: The National Republic Convention (NRC)  and Social Democratic Party (SDP) to be registered under the National Electoral Commission (NEC). This time around the character and formation of Nigerian political parties changed under the military government. Nigerians yearns for the best candidate not minding where the person comes from. Based on this MKO Abiola of SDP won the presidential seat on June 12 1993,he won his running mate Babagana Kingibe of NRC. It was very unfortunate that the winner of that election was never declared winner and allowed to rule by the IBB administration but instead was mysteriously killed and sealed and was never heard of till date.

Political Parties under General Abacha who overthrew the Interim government under Chief Ernest Shonekan in 1993. They registered five political parties under the supervision of National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON). The registered parties are:  Committee for National Consensus (CNC); Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN); Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM); National Centre Party of Nigeria (NCPN) and United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP). Abacha who was a terror to Nigerians was made the consensus presidential candidate in 1998 his intention was to hand over himself as a civilian president.  The idea never worked following his death that same year.

Political Parties under the  Fourth Republic 

It was only three parties that were approved in 1999 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The parties are: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Alliance for Democracy (AD) and All Peoples Party (APP). The present fourth republic which started from 1999 till date practiced democratic system of government. And under democracy human right is uplifted and as a result any type of political parties are allowed to exist provided they meet up with their requirement. The new dispensation saw the rapid growth of more political parties. In 2003 political parties increased to thirty (30) in the general election and in 2007 it increased to fifty (50), then in 2011 registered political parties escalated to sixty three (63). In Nigeria today only two parties are known and recognized and they are Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Peoples Congress (APC).

Patterns of Electoral Malpractice by Security Agents in the 60s till date

                    i.            They observed roles of the security forces in perpetuating electoral malpractice and fraud

                     ii.            Collusion with politicians to scare opponents from polling centers

                    iii.            Receiving bribes from politicians to stuff ballot boxes

                   iv.            Collusion with political party agents and thugs to stuff ballot boxes

                    v.            Failing to act in the face of violence and rigging

                     vi.            Personally thumb-printing ballot papers

                    vii.            Abandonment of/absence from, attached polling centers

                  viii.            Sporadic shooting into the air to scare away genuine voters, and in the process, ballot boxes already stuffed were substituted for the empty ones

  

viii. Illegal arrest and detention of political opponents at the eve of election and election days

ix. Sporadic shooting into the air at the house of opponents before and during election days to prevent them from any effective mobilization of supporters and the electorate

x. Harassing of voters at polling booths including beating and jack booting thereby infringing on their human rights.

Population Census,

Population of Nigeria: size and distribution

Nigeria’s population is greater than that of all the other countries of West Africa put together. It is nine times the population of Ghana; about three times that of the Republic of South Africa. Population- wise, Nigeria is the largest country in the Commonwealth, after India and Pakistan. Nigeria’s population is both an asset and a liability. It is an asset because:

1. When Nigeria speaks, the rest of the world listens. Nigeria is looked up to for leadership by the black people of the world. Part of the reason for this is the country’s large population. But there are other factors such as its abundant natural resources and its large crude-oil- based national income.
2. Nigeria’s large population is a large potential market for manufacturing industries. But for this potential to be translated into reality, the purchasing power of the people must be substantially increased. 
3. Nigeria large population could provide it with a large labour force for economic development. But before this can happen, the people need to be educated and provided with job skills.

4.  In the unlikely event of a conventional war, Nigeria would be in a position to raise a very large army because of her large population.

Nigeria’s large population is a liability because it means:

1. So many people to be fed;
2. So many people to be provided with shelter;
3.  So many people to educate;
4. So many people to be provided with other social services such as water and health;
5.   So many people to provide with security; and
6. So many people to provide with employment.

Population Growth

The population of Nigeria was estimated at 17 million in 1921 and 21 million in 1931. The first complete census in 1953 gave the population as 31 million. The 1963 census gave it as 55.67 million. The 1991 census put the population at 88,992,220. This makes Nigeria the most populous country in Africa. As a matter of fact about 20% of the world’s black populations are Nigeria. From the above figures, it is clear that Nigeria’s population has been growing very rapidly over the last years. The National Population Commission (NPC) has estimated that the population of Nigeria is now growing at about 2.8% per annum. Compared with the developed countries of the world, this rate of growth is very high.

The National Population Commission has estimated the population of the country in 2002 at 122,443,748. At the present rate of growth, the population figure of 1991 was 88. 5 million and 2006 was 140 million may be expected to double by or before the year 2015. This means a doubling of the population in about 25 years. In order to know the implications of this high rate of growth of Nigeria’s population for economic development and the standard of living of the people, it is necessary to compare it with the rate at which the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is growing.

It has been estimated that Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product is growing at only 3.4% per annum. This is only a little higher than the rate at which the population is growing. The result is that after the country has met its people’s basic needs such as food, shelter and clothing, there is little left over for investment in development and ability of the country to provide these things. Above all, there is a big gap between the country’s needs for security personnel and her ability to meet these needs. Thus, the country’s police Force is only about 120,000 strong, making the country under –policed, a situation that favours criminal activity 

                     

 

Population Distribution

One of the most striking features of the population of Nigeria is that it is very unevenly distributed. While some areas are very densely populated, others are only lightly populated or virtually uninhabited. The general distribution of population in Nigeria which may be described as follows:

• Areas of high population density which include the Igbo-Ibibio heartland of Anambara, Imo, Abia, and Akwa Ibom States; parts of Lagos State and Oyo State as well as parts of Kano, Katsin and Sokoto;
• Areas of moderate population density, which include Ogun State, Ondo, Edo, Osun, Ekiti, most of Kogi, parts of Rivers, Cross Riverr, Ebonyi and Benue States; most of Sokoto, parts of Zamfara, Katsina, Jigawa, Plateau and parts of Bauchi, Gombe, Borno and Adamawa States; and
•  Areas of light population density, which include parts of Oyo, Kwara, most of Niger, most of Kebbi, most of Zamfara, most of Kaduna, Nasarawa, Taraba, parts of Bauchi and Gombe, and most of Borno and Adamawa. This uneven distribution of population is very significant when it is related to the distribution of national resources.

Ethnic Politics

Ethnic Politics is no other thing than projection of a particular tribe to benefit from government. In mid 60s Nigeria have four regions. The four has only the interest of their people at heart. What our forefathers played in the past as politics was a selfish and sectional politics whereby other tribe does not matter to them.The nation suffered ethnic competitiveness where the Igbo group was competing with the Yoruba in terms of leadership. The northerners complained of educational inequality caused by them because of their faith in religion.

The fear of the northerners on education inequality made them to hate the Igbos, and that made them to cling unto power tenaciously and are ready to kill anyone that should contest with them. It made them power drunk and feel that power must remain with them forever because of this there has been economic imbalance. Making the  few in the government share what belong to the masses within themselves. Whenever they are to share revenue allocation because of biased mind they tend to favour their people alone. Ethnic politics is a strategy that the corrupt and heartless politicians use in destabilizing the country whenever they are denied what they want from the government.

 The controversial census of 1962 – 63 was also as a result of ethnic politics thereby making the northerner the largest  in terms of population till date.  Ethnic politics has done a lot of harm to Nigerians. We are glad that the tone of political parties in Nigeria today has taken a new dimension. If  All Peoples Grand Alliance ( APGA) party that was regarded as an  eastern party could secure a sit in Benue that means that ethnic politics is gradually dyeing in silence or disappearing gradually. The formation of Political parties with people of like minds will in future eliminate ethnic politics.

Military Rule and Problems of Military Disengagements,

Military rule in Nigeria started in 15^th January 1966 – 1979 and 1983 – 1999. So we can say that Nigeria has been under the military leadership for 29 years quite a long time. This has retarded our growth and development like other countries like China and South Africa. It is not a ferry tale, that a lot of Nigerians that migrated to the developed countries are faced with maltreatment and killing a good example is in South Africa where Nigerians are killed like fowl because of search for greener pasture.   A lot of blame should go to the military that handled the economy of the nations for many years and yet could not put the country in good shape.

The Civil War,

Further division into 12 States led the crisis to the Nigerian Civil War 1967-1970. The current 36 states of Nigeria keep the balance between minorities, and the organization of 6 informal geo-political zones corresponds to the ethnic-regional groupings.

On May 30, 1967, Ojukwu declared the secession of the three states of the Eastern region under the name of the Republic of Biafra, which the federal government interpreted as an act of rebellion. Fighting broke out in early July and within weeks had escalated into a full-scale civil war. In August Biafran troops crossed the Niger, seized Benin City, and were well on their way to Lagos before they were checked at Ore, a small town in Western state (now Ondo state). Shortly thereafter, federal troops entered Enugu, the provisional capital of Biafra, and penetrated the Igbo heartland. The next two years were marked by stiff resistance in the shrinking Biafran enclave and by heavy casualties among civilians as well as in both armies, all set within what threatened to be a military stalemate. Peacemaking attempts by the Organization of African Unity (now the African Union) remained ineffective, while Biafra began earning recognition from African states and securing aid from international organizations for what was by then a starving population.

Gowon’s attempt to hold a conference to settle the constitutional future of Nigeria was abandoned after a series of ethnic massacres in October. A last-ditch effort to save the country was made in January 1967, when the Eastern delegation, led by Lieut. Col. (later Gen.) Odumegwu Ojukwu, agreed to meet the others on neutral ground at Aburi, Ghana, but the situation deteriorated after differences developed over the interpretation of the accord. In May the Eastern region’s consultative assembly authorized Ojukwu to establish a sovereign republic, while, at the same time, the federal military government promulgated a decree dividing the four regions into 12 states, including 6 in the north and 3 in the east, in an attempt to break the power of the regions.

The final Biafran collapse began on December 24, 1969, when federal troops launched a massive effort at a time when Biafra was short on ammunition, its people were desperate for food, and its leaders controlled only one-sixth of the territory that had formed the Biafran republic in 1967. Ojukwu fled to Côte d’Ivoire on January 11, 1970, and a Biafran deputation formally surrendered in Lagos four days later.

General Gowon was able, through his own personal magnetism, to reconcile the two sides so that the former Biafran states were integrated into the country once again and were not blamed for the war. The oil boom that followed the war allowed the federal government to finance development programs and consolidate its power. In 1974 Gowon postponed until 1976 the target date for a return to civilian rule, but he was overthrown in July 1975 and fled to Great Britain. The new head of state, Brig. Gen. Murtala Ramat Mohammed, initiated many changes during his brief time in office: he began the process of moving the federal capital to Abuja, addressed the issue of government inefficiency, and, most important, initiated the process for a return to civilian rule. He was assassinated in February 1976 during an unsuccessful coup attempt, and his top aide, Lieut. Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, became head of the government.

Problems of Democracy

Democracy

 Democracy signifies” the rule of the people”. Abraham Lincoln’s definition of democracy is close to its literal meaning. It reads: democracy is the government of the people, by the people and for the people (Guaba 2005:421).

There are certain principles which are implied in the different interpretations of democracy. For instance (a) Government by consent (b) Public accountability (c) Majority rule (d) Recognition of minority rights; (e) Constitutional government (f) Freedom of association (g) Existence of opposition; and (h) The upholding of civil liberty and rights.

 Democracy therefore can at best be said to be relative. Traditional lgbo society was democratic and contrasted significantly to the Hausa-Fulani and Oduduwa kingdom where power was centralized. Turing to contemporary Nigeria, we face the dilemma of fitting current political practices into existing theories of democracy.

In the dictionary definition, democracy "is government by the people in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system." In the phrase of Abraham Lincoln, democracy is a government "of the people, by the people, and for the people."

Freedom and democracy are often used interchangeably, but the two are not synonymous. Democracy is indeed a set of ideas and principles about freedom, but it also consists of a set of practices and procedures that have been molded through a long, often tortuous history. In short, democracy is the institutionalization of freedom. For this reason, it is possible to identify the time-tested fundamentals of constitutional government, human rights, and equality before the law that any society must possess to be properly called democratic.

Visions of Democracies depend on: 

• aware of their rights and responsibilities as citizens;
• informed about the social and political world;
• concerned about the welfare of others;
• articulate in their opinions and arguments;
• capable of having an influence on the world;
• active in their communities;

The pillars of democracy

• Sovereignty of the people.
• Government based upon consent of the governed.
• Majority rule.
• Minority rights.
• Guarantee of basic human rights.
• Free and fair elections.
• Equality before the law.
• Due process of law.
• Constitutional limits on government.
• Social, economic, and political pluralism.

·         Values of tolerance, pragmatism, cooperation, and compromise

Problems of Democracy

1. Conflict and Social, Economic and Political Instability: when there is constant change in government it disrupts the already existing plan for the well being of the nation. Therefore, it is expected to give way for a sitting government to complete their tenure before removal from office. Nigerians witnessed the change of government more during the military era that was filled with coup upon counter coup. Conflict is another problem that alters the good plans of democracy; due to what it involves like people becoming unsettled, ruining about to gain refuge and government spending in order to take care of victims etc.

2. They are very Slow in Decision Making: the use of constitution does not give room for quick decisions rather it must pass rigorous processes before settling to a final decision. It is only decree that does not need a democratic process. Decision are taken immediately by the military to do whatever they want through using decree.

3. Negligence of the Minorities views: most of the time democracy tend to focus on a place that are highly populated even in terms of development they focus on the area that they feel will get the highest number of votes during election. Due to this the minorities feels neglected and underdeveloped.

4.  Democracy is capital intensive: in order to achieve a free and fair democratic election it must involve money. More especially when every nation  now uses electronic voting this requires a lot of money to run the business successfully.

5. Ethnicity: this has been the problem of Nigeria from ages; whereby politics with bitterness are being played. This also disrupts democracy from achieving its aim.

6.  Denials of human rights like the press freedom; this is where private individual or human right activists are denied to investigate the government.

7. Lack of Judiciary independent: a situation whereby the judiciary cannot take decision on its own is a very big problem. The interference of government in the judiciary does not promote a healthy politics

8.  Illiteracy: kicks against the smooth functioning of democracy because of lack of awareness and may lead to political apathy.

9.   Military Rule is another problem of democracy as it denys people of their basic human right.

Politics of Power Sharing and Resource Allocation Control

Allocation meant for the federal government is 52. 68%, state government 26.72% and the local government was 20.6% (RMAFC, 2016). It is indicated that fiscal federalism structured favours the federal government more than every other arms of government.  That is to say that more than fifty percent (50%) of the funds from the federation account went to the central government while the states and local government shared the remaining funds. This arrangement has in recent times, challenged by oil producing states and other state Governors who were not happy with the present situation.

Moreover, the state that has the highest local government receives more allocation than those states that has lesser local government. This is what causes some part of the states to agitate as being marginalized.  We can emphatically state here that sharing and resource allocation in Nigeria is not uniformed that, what states in the north receives is different from what the west, south and east receives. A true democracy is based on equal treatment whereby no one complains of maltreatment and that is what democracy stands for, to see that at the end everyone is satisfied and happy.

The call for resource control by the region has led successive governments into creating Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in 2000, Niger Delta Ministry in2008, largely as a response to the demand for resource control. Hitherto to military interference in 1966, regional governments controlled their resources and paid royalties to the federal government. These regions performed creditably well and were able to pay salaries, built higher institutions and construct roads. It is advised that the current fiscal federalism, under operation, should be replaced with the old regional fiscal federalism. As at that time there completion among the regions and it was a healthy one of which they are encouraged to work hard. Based on this development it is required that the federal government should device a means of equal sharing and treatment of every state in the country.

 Two topics are yet to be fully developed it will be ready soon just read and get prepared for your CBT coming up soon.