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March 12 – The Nigerian Nation

March 12 – The Nigerian Nation. Agenda: Country Briefs Quick-write Notes Jigsaw Homework: 548-end of chapter. Take out: Notebook Country Briefs Pen/Pencil. QW: What was meant by the following quotation? What does it tell us about governing Nigeria?.

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March 12 – The Nigerian Nation

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  1. March 12 – The Nigerian Nation Agenda: • Country Briefs • Quick-write • Notes • Jigsaw Homework: • 548-end of chapter Take out: • Notebook • Country Briefs • Pen/Pencil

  2. QW: What was meant by the following quotation? What does it tell us about governing Nigeria? “Nigeria is not a nation. It is a mere geographical expression.”Yoruba Chief ObafemiAwolowo

  3. Northwest AKA “The North” Hausa-Fulani Largest ethnic group Predominantly Muslim Northern People’s Congress (NPC) Southeast AKA “The East” Igbo 2rd largest ethnic group Predominantly Christian National Convention of Nigerian Citizens (NGNG) The Nigerian Nation • Southwest • AKA “The West” • Yoruba • 2nd largest ethnic group • 40% Christian, 40% Muslim, 20% Yoruban • Action Group (AG) • Three other “minority” zones exist (Northeast, Middle Belt, and the Delta)

  4. DIVERSITY leads to… • Fragmentation • The tendency to divide along ethnic, linguistic, regional, and/or religious lines • Lots of people are watching Nigeria (if it fell apart, it would have major repercussions for the rest of W. Africa) • “…as Nigeria goes, so goes the rest of Africa” • Over 250 ethnic groups call parts of Nigeria home • There are over 400 languages spoken • Most can’t speak other languages • HF = 29% Yor = 21% Ibo = 18% Ijaw=10%

  5. But why do the divisions exist in an established country?

  6. The North Hausa-Fulani The West Yoruba The East Igbo

  7. The North Hausa-Fulani The West Yoruba The East Igbo

  8. Nigeria -Historical Differences

  9. North vs. South – Historical Differences The North The South Fertile Delta More densely populated BUT small communities Very little trade along water before colonization Became a British protectorate Relied on Royal Niger Company • Drier • Thinly populated • More connected to world economy • Saharan trade • Did not welcome/ allow missionaries • Cultural diffusion through trade to the north

  10. Precolonial Era (800-1860) • Early influence of Islam • Contact in North • Arabic education influenced and replaced traditional customs • Sharia Law • Kinship-based politics • Prevalent in the South • Political organization and trade by village/tribe • Democratic impulses • Developed in South • Rulers expected to seek input of community

  11. NigeriaBasics – Sharia States

  12. Colonial Era (1860-1960) • Authoritarian Rule was Indirect • South - Regional chiefs left in charge • North – Local elites placed in control • Divide and Conquer – pitted local rulers against each other to compete for rewards • (infrastructure, social needs, bureaucratic appointments) • Individualism • Created tendency for local rulers to seek personal benefits • Christianity • Spread through south andwest (vs. Islam in the north) • Education only offered through missionary schools • Intensification of Ethnic politics • Southern elitism (vs. north)

  13. British Legacy • Once the British announced they were leaving Nigeria, all semblance of national unity was gone…competition became intense for political power • The Big Question: How could Nigeria become truly independent when it had been dependent for so long?

  14. The First Republic(1960-1966) • Westminster Model (Parliamentary) • The Northerners dominated (with Igbo allies) • Originally sought to redress the imbalance from Colonial era • Ethnic divisions create unrest • Majority could not maintain control • PM authority was consistently undermined • Descended into military rule • Igbo (Biafra) attempt secession (1967-1970) • Three civil wars lead to over 1 million deaths • Military (Igbo controlled) seized power in ’66 to end fighting in the Western region (among the Yoruba) and to stop corruption and northern abuses

  15. LEADERSHIP TRANSISITON SINCE 1960

  16. 4th Republic: 1999 – present • Unitary system in a federal guise – An all-powerful government surrounded by weak and bankrupt states • Consequence of military rule  Incredibly strong executive branch • Weak legislature and judiciary • Patronage politics that sap accountability, and undermine the rule of law • Accentuate cleavages • Rampant clientelism, corruption and authoritarian governing structures

  17. Public Policy: Economics • Loyalty pyramid – informal political structure of power • Squandered Nigeria’s wealth • $30 billion in debt, 60% in poverty, oil revenues go directly to government • Since the last military regime (1999) there have been basic fiscal changes: • IMF/World Bank ‘Shock Treatment’ • Some privatization • Scheme for alleviating poverty • Restructuring • Diversify economy • Reduce government spending • Financial reserves have grown slowly (finally out of debt in 2006)

  18. But what about the people?

  19. Group-Share • You have been assigned a reading packet that includes news relating to a region of Nigeria • Read you assigned packet • Use SPECIFIC DETAILS from the packet to complete a three-column chart with the following headings: • Specific Problems/Issues in Nigeria • What has been done? • What still needs to be done? • After beginning your chart, you will collaborate with a small group to share information from the other reading packets

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