Nigeria

1. Nigeria “The Country to Pick in Africa”

2. Keep in mind Key Concepts • Political History/Political Culture • Social Setting (Ethnic/Religious/Regional Cleavages) • Political Participation • Political Institutions • Elites and Recruitment • Public Policies

3. Nigeria--Federal State

4. Nigeria • As Nigeria goes, so does Africa • 160 million out of 600 million • Represents all the limitations and opportunities of post colonial Africa • Big resources—oil • Prebendalism—corruption of high level positions to gain personal wealth • Patron client system—extremely personalized system of rule in which all public offices are treated as personal fiefdoms (established form of participation) • Political instability and complexity

5. Nigeria • Nigeria accounts for ¼ of West Africa’s people • The most populous and politically influential ethnic groups include the Hausa-Fulani-29%, Yoruba-21%, Igbo (Ibo) 18%, Ijaw-10%, Kanuri-4%, Ibibio, 3.5%, and Tiv, 2.5% • More than 250 languages are spoken, English is the official language • Average Nigerian life expectancy is 50.59 yrs • Each Nigerian women bears an average of 5.49 children

6. Nigeria • Of the population aged 15 and over, 57.1% percent can read and write • Nigeria is one of the wealthiest, and one of the poorest, of African nations • Though the country brings in billions of dollars in oil revenues, the UN’s HDI ranks it 136th out of 174 • Less than 25% of Nigerians live in cities, but the cities are large, at least 24 cities have populations of more than 100,000

7. Nigeria • An estimated 3.5 million Nigerians have HIV/AIDS, accounting for one in every 11 HIV/AIDS sufferers worldwide.

8. Nigeria • Natural resources—”national patrimony” • Oil rich delta • Political instability and prebendalism • Accountability of government • Bureaucracy • Para statals—corporations owned by the state and designated to provides commercial and social welfare services • Provide public utilities, also steel, defense products, petroleum • State corporatism

9. Nigeria • Nigeria is the world’s sixth largest exporter of petroleum, producing 4.5% of the world’s total production • Once a large exporter of food, Nigeria must now import food.

10. Nigeria • Since 1960 • Military dictatorship with brief interlude of democracy and civilian rule • Continuing tale of excesses of militarism—ethnic religious favoritism • Well entrenched military—transition to democracy difficult • History of extra-constitutional (and non-democratic) approaches to political rule

11. Nigeria • Sovereignty • Post colonial constricted sovereignty • Always a contested issue largely because Nigeria was created out of multiple identities and existing kingdoms • Related to other African nations as well • Federal state • North/South—Muslim and Christian respectively

12. Nigeria • Has a sense of being the big boy on the block • State has thought of itself more and more as both sovereign and a dominant in regional affairs – Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) • Nigeria played a part in managing civil wars in the region as well as regional economic policies.

13. Nigeria • Complexity in Nigeria • Balance with Civil and Military Relations • Managing Diversity • Hausa Fulani (Northern Peoples Congress—North) • Yoruba (Action Group) • Igbo (National Congress of Nigerian Citizens) • Transition from Authoritarian/Military Regime to Democracy • Successfully exploiting resources for public good • Determining role of religion

14. Nigeria • Religion • Islam in north and west, Hausa Fulani • Sharia law • Support not unanimous • The North is Nigeria’s poorest region, but it has traditionally held great political power, supplying most of the country’s presidents since its independence in 1960. • The implementation of Sharia is seen by some as a direct challenge to President OlusegunObesanjo, a southern Christian • September 2001—Plateau, central Christian state-fighting between indigenous Christians and newly arrived Muslims (perhaps 1000 killed) • Spring 2010 – several hundred dead in religious unrest in the central region, city of Jos • Boko Haram – Christmas 2011 bombings

15. Nigeria • Challenges to legitimacy • Ethnic and religious communities • British established federal arrangements that coincided with ethnic/religious cleavages • Undermined fragile process of nation building • 1967-70 Biafran Civil War (Chechnya, Tibet) • Lack of coherent ideology

16. Nigeria • Since the restoration of civilian rule in May 1999, more than 10,000 Nigerians have died in civil strife • Former president General SaniAbacha, who seized power in 93 after canceling presidential elections and jailing the presumed winner, reportedly made off with 4.3 billion from Nigeria’s treasury. • Nigeria is ranked #134 out of 182 nations in the Transparency International Global Corruption Report 2010

17. Nigeria • “419 men” is the name for people who accumulate fast wealth. It refers to the number of laws relating to fraud in the Nigerian penal code • So called “419 men” are believed to have earned their wealth through scams and the international drug trade

18. Nigeria • Consolidating Democracy • Legacy of colonialism • Ethnic and religious cleavages • Prebendal tendencies and corruption • 1999 fledgling democracy • Context of time—democracy experience relatively short

19. Nigeria • Problems are magnified • Heartbreaking experimentation with democracy going back to the 1960s • 1966—democracy movement • Commitment to democracy never lost even in the midst of military dictatorship • Even military leaders have been compelled to make the promise of democracy

20. Nigeria • 1979—Experimentation of democracy floundered –no political culture/ underpinnings • Perennial Crossroads—Nigerians are hopeful and indeed “would make Oprah blush” • Sense of optimism—this will work and it is going to work now—this is it.

21. Nigeria • Government Structure/History • Nigeria was formally united under British colonial rule in 1914, but the result was a loose affiliation of the mainly Muslim Hausa-Fulani North, the mainly Christian Yoruba South and West, and the mainly Christian Igbo East

22. Nigeria • The country achieved its independence from England in 1960. • Tired of the way his people were being mistreated in the north, Igbo leader Lieutenant Col. Odemugwu Ojukwu declared the eastern region of Nigeria the Republic of Biafra on May 30, 1967. • The civil war that resulted cost more than a million lives • By January, 1970 the Biafran state was crushed, its capital city lost in battle and it population starved into submission.

23. Nigeria • From the first military coup, in 1966, the army has consistently ruled the country (except for a break during the Second Republic 79-83 and for a few weeks in 93, until the 99. • Following nearly 16 years of military rule, a new constitution was adopted in 1999, and a peaceful transition to civilian government followed. • Following the death of Achaba—in “coup from heaven” (i.e. heart attack)

24. Nigeria • Under the constitution adopted in May 1999, a strong executive presidency appoints a Federal Executive Council composed of government ministers and ministers from each of Nigeria’s 36 states. • The Executive is accountable to the bicameral National Assembly

25. Nigeria • There are three major parties, but, in practice, personal and ethnic ties dominate the political process • Goodluck Jonathan has been Nigeria’s president since February 2010. He belongs to the Peoples Democratic Party. • Followed Umaru Yar’Adua. (Yar’ Adua died in office). • Issues—corruption, weaning the economy off of oil, more democratic federal system, who is really in charge

26. Nigeria—Economy • Currency: naira (NGN) • Population below poverty line: 45 % • Most Nigerians survive on less than $2 a day • Former military rulers allowed Nigeria to develop a chronic dependence on its black gold (oil) which provides 20% of Nigeria’s GDP, 95% of foreign exchange earnings and nearly 80 percent of government income

27. Nigeria—Economy