Analysis of Factors Inhibiting Democracy and Democratization in Nigeria, 1999-2007
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Date
2010
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Department of History & Archaology Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University , Lapai
Abstract
After the long occupation of the political arena by the military, Nigeria is now on the path of transforming civil rule into full democratisation. Though the problems of democratic transition, nurturing and consolidation are daunting, the challenge has to be faced. For democracy is an avenue through which members of the society possesses the right of choosing the leadership through elections. Nigeria's march to constitutional democracy has however, been a chequered one marked by anti-colonial struggles, crisis, coups and a thirty month agonising civil war. The collapse of the past few democratic administration came as a result of the weak foundations of democracy paving the way for military incursion into politics and governance. The demise of the First Republic in 1966 marked the beginning of 'soldier go, soldier come' syndrome which was detrimental to the process of democracy in Nigeria. Colonialism, ethnicity and religious bigotry have been identified as factors inhibiting democracy and democratisation in Nigeria. This paper also identified other factors to include the failure of a workable federal system, the debate over resource control and corruption.
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Keywords
Factors inhibiting, Democracy, Democratisation, Nigeria