Nigeria – Historical Nigeria – Historical FoundationsFoundations

Federalist Structure (Muslim Federalist Structure (Muslim North, Christian South) 36 North, Christian South) 36

StatesStates

The Nigerian Nation at a The Nigerian Nation at a GlanceGlance

2. Per Capita GDP Rankings2. Per Capita GDP Rankings1.1. United States ($37,800)United States ($37,800)2.2. United Kingdom ($27,700)United Kingdom ($27,700)3.3. Mexico ($9,000)Mexico ($9,000)4.4. Russia ($8,900)Russia ($8,900)5.5. Iran ($7,000)Iran ($7,000)6.6. China ($5,000)China ($5,000)7.7. Nigeria ($800)Nigeria ($800)

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

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

Former Head of State: Former Head of State: President Umaru Yar’AduaPresident Umaru Yar’Adua

Current Head of State: Current Head of State: President Goodluck President Goodluck

JonathanJonathan

Former Head of Former Head of Government: President Government: President

Umaru Yar’AduaUmaru Yar’Adua

Current Head of Current Head of Government: President Government: President

Goodluck JonathanGoodluck Jonathan

Politics in Action (2 of 2)Politics in Action (2 of 2)

LegitimacyLegitimacy Nigeria is a relatively young country, achieving

independence in 1960, this makes establishing legitimate government more difficult

FragmentationFragmentation – tendency in developing countries to fall apart along ethnic, regional, and/or religious lines– Nigeria is diverse religiously, ethnically, linguistically

CorruptionCorruption – Much of the oil money coming into the country goes directly to government officials, not to the people– Patron-client relationships very important

(prebendalism)

Constitutionalism Nine constitutions drafted since 1914Nine constitutions drafted since 1914

– Five under colonial rule and four sinceFive 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

Colonial EraColonial Era Britain’s imposition of a federal Britain’s imposition of a federal

structure on Nigeria grouped structure on Nigeria grouped together many different historically together many different historically antagonistic ethnic groupsantagonistic ethnic groups

Aggravated tensions when regional Aggravated tensions when regional boundaries coincided with ethnic boundaries coincided with ethnic divisionsdivisions

Over 250 distinct ethnic groupsOver 250 distinct ethnic groups

Divisive Identities: Ethnic Politics Divisive Identities: Ethnic Politics Under ColonialismUnder Colonialism

Colonial EraColonial Era Christianity Christianity – British introduction of Christianity – British introduction of Christianity

created a divide between Christian and Muslim areascreated a divide between Christian and Muslim areas– Islam (Sharia law) dominant in the north, Christianity in the Islam (Sharia law) dominant in the north, Christianity in the

southsouth Intensification of Ethnic PoliticsIntensification of Ethnic Politics – emergence of – emergence of

three dominant groups: three dominant groups: Hausa-Fulani (north), Hausa-Fulani (north), Yoruba (southwest), Igbo (southeast) Yoruba (southwest), Igbo (southeast) – These cleavages generally coincide with geographic These cleavages generally coincide with geographic

cleavagescleavages (reinforcing) (reinforcing)– British pitted groups against each other to British pitted groups against each other to

maintain controlmaintain control

Independence EraIndependence Era The 1The 1stst Republic (1960-1966) Republic (1960-1966)

– British Westminster model British Westminster model Biafran Civil War and Military Rule (1966-1979)Biafran Civil War and Military Rule (1966-1979)

– Ethnic + political violenceEthnic + political violence The 2The 2ndnd and 3 and 3rdrd Republics (1979-1999) Republics (1979-1999)

– Presidential system, FPTP, plurality electionsPresidential system, FPTP, plurality elections– Alternating military, civilian rule (coups)Alternating military, civilian rule (coups)

The 4The 4thth Republic (1999 to Present) Republic (1999 to Present) – 2007 – First peaceful turnover of power between 2007 – First peaceful turnover of power between

civilian presidents after electionscivilian presidents after elections– PDP now dominant political partyPDP now dominant political party

Independence Era (1960-Present)

Parliamentary vs. Presidential SystemParliamentary 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 ConflictIntensification of Ethnic Conflict – After independence, Hausa-Fulani (Muslims in North) dominated parliament because of large population

Independence Era continued Military RuleMilitary Rule

A series of coups d’état and rule by military leaders during the A series of coups d’état and rule by military leaders during the past 50+ years past 50+ years

Democratization efforts interrupted by military interventionDemocratization efforts interrupted by military intervention Economic dependence on OilEconomic dependence on Oil

– This has led to corruption and has caused great harm to the This has led to corruption and has caused great harm to the environment and low levels of legitimacy for govt.environment and low levels of legitimacy for govt. Because of corruption, most Nigerians have not benefited from oil wealthBecause of corruption, most Nigerians have not benefited from oil wealth Government-dominated economy Government-dominated economy

– Collapse of world oil prices in early 1980s caused a crisis for the Collapse of world oil prices in early 1980s caused a crisis for the government because nearly all its income was dependent on oil government because nearly all its income was dependent on oil (rentier state)(rentier state)

Rentier StateRentier State

Structural Adjustment / Structural Adjustment / PrivatizationPrivatization

1980s1980s– Developed structural adjustment program Developed structural adjustment program

(SAP) with support of international (SAP) with support of international financial institutions (IMF, World Bank)financial institutions (IMF, World Bank)

Privatization central to adjustment programPrivatization central to adjustment program– Some parastatals sold offSome parastatals sold off– Intended to generate revenue, reduce Intended to generate revenue, reduce

state expenditures, improve efficiencystate expenditures, improve efficiency– Disappointing resultsDisappointing results

Economic GrowthEconomic Growth

Dependency TheoryDependency Theory

Growing InequalityGrowing Inequality

Steps Toward Steps Toward DemocratizationDemocratization

1995 - New constitution eliminating military rule1995 - New constitution eliminating military rule Freer pressFreer press Regular elections since 1999Regular elections since 1999 Protections for ethnic and religious groups.Protections for ethnic and religious groups. Redrawing of state boundaries to increase Redrawing of state boundaries to increase

representation + more states createdrepresentation + more states created Direct election of presidentDirect election of president Electoral support required from different Electoral support required from different

subnational regionssubnational regions Creation of the Independent National Electoral Creation of the Independent National Electoral

Commission (INEC)Commission (INEC)

Nigeria in the World of Nigeria in the World of StatesStates

Nigeria has military and economic power in West Nigeria has military and economic power in West African regionAfrican region

Nigeria has significantly increased its importance Nigeria has significantly increased its importance as a regional power through its leadership in the as a regional power through its leadership in the Economic Community of West African States Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)(ECOWAS)

Nigeria forced to seek support from international Nigeria forced to seek support from international financial institutions (IMF, World Bank)financial institutions (IMF, World Bank)– Forced to accept direction from foreign agenciesForced to accept direction from foreign agencies

Influential member of Organization of Petroleum Influential member of Organization of Petroleum Exporting CountriesExporting Countries