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Nigeria – Historical Foundations

Nigeria – Historical Foundations. Federalist Structure (Muslim North, Christian South) 36 States. The Nigerian Nation at a Glance. 2. Per Capita GDP Rankings. United States ($37,800) United Kingdom ($27,700) Mexico ($9,000) Russia ($8,900) Iran ($7,000) China ($5,000) Nigeria ($800).

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Nigeria – Historical Foundations

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  1. Nigeria – Historical Foundations

  2. Federalist Structure (Muslim North, Christian South) 36 States

  3. The Nigerian Nation at a Glance

  4. 2. Per Capita GDP Rankings • United States ($37,800) • United Kingdom ($27,700) • Mexico ($9,000) • Russia ($8,900) • Iran ($7,000) • China ($5,000) • Nigeria ($800)

  5. The Making of the Modern Nigerian State (1 of 2)

  6. The Making of the Modern Nigerian State (2 of 2)

  7. Former Head of State: President Umaru Yar’Adua

  8. Current Head of State: President Goodluck Jonathan

  9. Former Head of Government: President Umaru Yar’Adua

  10. Current Head of Government: President Goodluck Jonathan

  11. Politics in Action (2 of 2)

  12. Legitimacy • Nigeria is a relatively young country, achieving independence in 1960, this makes establishing legitimate government more difficult • Fragmentation – tendency in developing countries to fall apart along ethnic, regional, and/or religious lines • Nigeria is diverse religiously, ethnically, linguistically • Corruption – Much of the oil money coming into the country goes directly to government officials, not to the people • Patron-client relationships very important (prebendalism)

  13. Constitutionalism • Nine constitutions drafted since 1914 • Five 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

  14. Colonial Era • Britain’s imposition of a federal structure on Nigeria grouped together many different historically antagonistic ethnic groups • Aggravated tensions when regional boundaries coincided with ethnic divisions • Over 250 distinct ethnic groups

  15. Divisive Identities: Ethnic Politics Under Colonialism

  16. Colonial Era • Christianity – British introduction of Christianity created a divide between Christian and Muslim areas • Islam (Sharia law) dominant in the north, Christianity in the south • Intensification of Ethnic Politics – emergence of three dominant groups: Hausa-Fulani (north), Yoruba (southwest), Igbo (southeast) • These cleavages generally coincide with geographic cleavages (reinforcing) • British pitted groups against each other to maintain control

  17. Independence Era • The 1st Republic (1960-1966) • British Westminster model • Biafran Civil War and Military Rule (1966-1979) • Ethnic + political violence • The 2nd and 3rd Republics (1979-1999) • Presidential system, FPTP, plurality elections • Alternating military, civilian rule (coups) • The 4th Republic (1999 to Present) • 2007 – First peaceful turnover of power between civilian presidents after elections • PDP now dominant political party

  18. Independence Era (1960-Present) • Parliamentary 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 Conflict – After independence, Hausa-Fulani (Muslims in North) dominated parliament because of large population

  19. Independence Era continued • Military Rule • A series of coups d’état and rule by military leaders during the past 50+ years • Democratization efforts interrupted by military intervention • Economic dependence on Oil • This has led to corruption and has caused great harm to the environment and low levels of legitimacy for govt. • Because of corruption, most Nigerians have not benefited from oil wealth • Government-dominated economy • Collapse of world oil prices in early 1980s caused a crisis for the government because nearly all its income was dependent on oil (rentier state)

  20. Rentier State

  21. Structural Adjustment / Privatization • 1980s • Developed structural adjustment program (SAP) with support of international financial institutions (IMF, World Bank) • Privatization central to adjustment program • Some parastatals sold off • Intended to generate revenue, reduce state expenditures, improve efficiency • Disappointing results

  22. Economic Growth

  23. Dependency Theory

  24. Growing Inequality

  25. Steps Toward Democratization • 1995 - New constitution eliminating military rule • Freer press • Regular elections since 1999 • Protections for ethnic and religious groups. • Redrawing of state boundaries to increase representation + more states created • Direct election of president • Electoral support required from different subnational regions • Creation of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

  26. Nigeria in the World of States • Nigeria has military and economic power in West African region • Nigeria has significantly increased its importance as a regional power through its leadership in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) • Nigeria forced to seek support from international financial institutions (IMF, World Bank) • Forced to accept direction from foreign agencies • Influential member of Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

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