Perhaps because of the experience i personally had in 2011 about electoral violence which i. A history of nigeria is an impressive book, the more so because its ambitions initially appear straightforward. As a result of this, the ingredients of democracy have not been able to thrive after many years of political independence in nigeria. Nigeria since independence have shown that the reins of government has always fallen into the. Corporate social responsibility of multinational corporations and the development of the niger delta region of nigeria enefiok e. The whole thing started from the year1999, when olusegun obasanjo was sworn in as the first democratically elected president of nigeria. Political leadership and corruption in nigeria since. Military and politics in nigeria the group of army officers involved in the military take over of janua ry 15, 1966, consisted of mostly southeastern igbo officers including major chukuma kaduna. It is a phenomenon that had existed even during the british rule and dominance of the political reign of the niger area people. The political culture in nigeria is characterized by intolerance, intimidation, thuggery, assassination, bitterness, apathy, indolence, money and ethnic politics. Corruption in nigeria has been a prevalent issue for decades. In nigeria, the history of political parties is as old as the history of the british imposition and colonization of the largest nation of the black people. Several dominant themes in nigerian history are essential for understanding contemporary.
History of political parties in nigeria nigerian finder. Causes, types, effects, and solutions to corruption in nigeria. First, the spread of islam began a millennium ago, predominantly in the north but later on extended to southwestern nigeria. The party was majorly populated by the hausafulani from the north. However, the prospect of their realisation in a country that was beleaguered by a chequered history of political imbalance, including a thirtymonth civil war, thirty. International journal of politics and good governance volume vi, no. The political, economic and social dynamics of nigeria. Overages, the country has been held hostage in shackles and coffin of corruption in nigeria and its adverse effect on the countrymen and women, it is no longer that new corruption has become a household menace that erupts from public office holders to the floor of common man in the room, how it happens, the forms it. In 1959, there were three political parties in the country and they include the following. First, the spread of islam, predominantly in the north but later in southwestern nigeria as well, began a.
There is yet to be a clearer understanding about the history of social studies in nigeria, which has posed to be a problem to the planners of social studies curriculum for authors and writers, the teachers and the learners. Nigerias flag consists of three equal vertical bands of green, white, and green. Several dominant themes in nigerian history are essential for understanding contemporary nigerian politics and society. Although the years since nigerias return to civilian rule in 1999 have seen an increased interest in its history and politics, nigeria remains one of the most underresearched african countries. May 29 th of every year is declared democracy day in nigeria, and it also a public holiday.
International journal of politics and good governance volume 5, no. History of democracy in nigeria and when did nigeria. The history of political parties in nigeria began when the first political party in nigeria was established in 1959, the year before nigeria gained her independence from great britain. An introduction to african politics, this course will provide for its participants a general survey of the main issues regarding politics in the continent. Their works form the basis for many of the systems in practice today. The politics of history in northern nigeria niels kastfelt centre of african studies university of copenhagen paper presented to the research seminar of the african studies centre, leiden, 27 april 2006 the politics of history in contemporary africa in recent years there has been a growing interest in the political uses of history in africa. Gender inequality and women participation in politics.
He was declared the winner of the controversial nigerian general election of 2007, held on april 21, and was sworn in on may 29, 2007. Political activities started in nigeria long before independence. Nigeria contains more historic cultures and empires than any other other nation in africa. Nnamdi azikiwe became the first president of independent nigeria, with sir. Lots of efforts were made by the three political regions, namely the northern, western and eastern regions, to.
Available records on the history of the political development of. The political, economic and social dynamics of nigeria africa portal. Nigeria under umaru musa yaradua and goodluck jonathan. Governmental and political history of nigeria the first republic. Introduction by the time nigeria gained its independence, it was entering a period of rapid social and economic change, and many people were quite optimistic about its future.
Thus providing nigeria with a cheqeured history with political transitions from civilian to military, military to military, military to civilian and civilian. The three political parties were the national council of nigeria and the cameroons ncnc. It operates the presidential system of government with three distinct but complementary arms namely the executive, the legislature and the judiciary, each acting as a check on. National council of nigeria and the cameroons ncnc. Areas covered range from political system types, political economies, and political cultures of diverse.
They date back as far as the 5th century bc, when communities living around the southern slopes of the jos plateau make wonderfully expressive terracotta figures in a tradition known now as the nok culture, from the nigerian village where these. The history of nigeria before independence in order to understand the current nigerian politics and society, three dominant characteristics need to be taken into account. Ap comparative government and politics nigeria briefing paper. Tafawa balewa serving as the first and only prime minister of the country the government of the first republic did not last as it came to a halt via several coup attempts with the first. It is obvious in nigerias political history and struggle for independence that the critical roles and leadership activities of major political parties.
On the coast of west african, an area of 356,669 square miles has been covered, which was known officially as the federal republic of nigeria in 1963. Profiting from the weaknesses and strengths of its predecessors, it treats not only nigerian politics, administration and economy but focuses also on culture and social history. Journal of nigeria studies volume 1, number 2, fall 2012 political leadership and corruption in nigeria since 1960. During this period, the songhai empire reached its greatest limits, stretching from the senegal and gambia rivers in the far west and incorporating part of hausaland in the east. An appraisal of precipitating factors in nigeria olayiwola victor ojo m sc political science, university of ilorin, ilorin, nigeria abstract. The common law in the legal system is similar to commonlaw systems used in england and wales and other commonwealth countries.
A history of nigeria by toyin falola cambridge core. Many of the first republic politicians were not corrupt since the majority of them came into politics with ideologies and principles. Nigeria, once stated that africa should seek unity in diversity and diversity in unity. He was simultaneously active in the federal government. History of political parties in nigeria will never be complete if mention is not made of the various political bigwigs in the history of this country. Nigeria has a long history, with its roots in early civilisations of distinguished artistry. However, concerted efforts have been made by government and nongovernmental organizations to increase the level of participation of women in politics in line with the declaration made at the. Research attention has been shifted now from technological and scientific development to centre on the politics of religion and the democratization of nigeria and religion in politics in nigerias new democracy. The developments in nigeria have a cnnsiderable bearing upon the developments in africa at large, and upon africas standing in world politics, its vitality and its ability to handle pressing problems, both within africa itself and in connection with world affairs generally.
Nigeria has been recording low participation of women in both elective and appointive positions. Lots of efforts were made by the three political regions, namely the northern, western and eastern regions, to give flesh to the political framework. Table of contents corruption in nigeria historycorruption in nigeria causeseffects of corruption in nigeriasolution to. Nigeria was scheduled for independence from britain in 1960, and three main political parties ran in the preparatory elections in 1959. Thus providing nigeria with a cheqeured history with political transitions from civilian to military, military to military, military to civilian and civilian to civilian. The plateau area around jos was a meeting point for cultural influences from the upper niger valley where agriculture developed independently as early as 5000 bce and from egypt. It has been estimated that nigeria has as much as 350 ethnic groups based on lingual classification. Historical background of nigerian politics, 19001960. Before the coming of whiteman in nigeria the history proved beyond reasonable doubt that there was a strong organized government without any. The history of nigeria before independence from 1914 till date nigeria stood as the biggest black country on the globe because of its estimated population of 190,000,00.
Controversies surrounding the 2007 presidential election. In precolonial times what is known as nigeria today was just a territory made up of a number of highly influential and diverse societies or kingdoms. History of nigeria before independence 1914 till date. Its for the interest of my fellow political science student. Bbc follow two professors of history and one chief wey sabi nigeria goment vs traditional history tok and dem breakdown wetin sanusi next move fit. Political leadership and corruption in nigeria since 1960. Geographical, historical and political profiles of nigeria. Aside discussing the political parties in nigeria, this write up will equally discuss about the political history of nigeria. The origin, development, ethnic politics, impacts, postcolonial governance. This book by falola and heaton, two experienced and now famed collaborators, is a remarkable new addition to the growing library on a general history of nigeria. Nigeria is a big oil exporter, but violence and oil spills dog the industry. Thus, in one sentence this veteran of the nationalist struggle in nigeria and in africa at large and the leading statesman of by far the most populous country of africa, summed up his experience of both nigerian and african politics.
The six year mistakes of the first republic politicians invited the military to interfere in governance after more than a total of six decades of colonial misrule rodney, 1974. He served as governor of katsina state in northern nigeria between may 29, 1999 and may 28, 2007. These legacies of colonialism have remained the bedrock of the many problems of nation building in nigeria since 1960. The constitutional framework for the legal system is provided by the constitution of nigeria. Benefiting from natural resources nigerias oilrich delta region generates enough revenue to address many of the. Toyin falola and matthew heaton describe their project as a general background survey of the broad themes of nigerias history from the beginnings of human habitation to the early twentyfirst century p. Since then, military rule has been a recurring phenomenon in nigeria. Section 5 looks at the justification for and scope of interparty dialogue. The political history of nigeria presents itself in three parts, the precolonial politics.
Corruption in nigeria causes, types, effects, and solutions. A new political philosophy for nigeria and other african countries, 1967. The law of nigeria is based on the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, and british common law due to the long history of british colonial influence. History of political parties in nigeria information. In the first republic, the last governorgeneral of nigeria, dr. The first set of political parties to be formed in nigeria was formed. The sixteenth century marked a high point in the political history of northern nigeria. The second political party was the northern people s congress npc and it was led by ahmadu bello. The organisation projects a population of 203 million in 2025 and 279 million in 2050, when nigeria is expected to have the worlds 6th largest population. Permit me to cite these cases in an unchronological order. Culture of nigeria history, people, clothing, traditions. Nevertheless, the democracy story in nigeria can be traced to the year 1960.
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