Comp Gov - 11 Nigeria

7/28/2019 Comp Gov - 11 Nigeria

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Nigeria

A microcosm of everything wrongwith the world today


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Most populous

nation in Africa(140 million)

GDP per capita =$2,134

HDI rank #151 The Economists

Democracy Indexranking = #124(few spots higherthan China andIran)


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Sovereignty, Authority, and Power

First country were studying where thenational question is an issue: Should weeven be a country?

Constitutionalism eluding Nigeria so far First constitution in 1914, 8 more since (latest in

1999)

Military and civilian leaders alike have never feltthe need to obey constitutions, and often writenew ones upon taking power


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Legitimacy

Newly independent (1960)

Highly fragmented along ethnic, regional,religious lines

The sole stable national institution is the military

Leads to legitimacy of militarys right to rule

Most leaders have been generals

Extremely low legitimacy of government, overall


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Legitimacy

Contradicting political traditions

Rule of Law from British colonial days Personalized authority of military leaders since

1960

Massive corruption, distrust of government


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Political History

3 Major Eras

Pre-Colonial (800 - 1860)

Colonial (1860 1960) Since Independence (1960 Present)


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Pre-Colonial Era (8001860)

Trends Trade connections along Niger river with North Africa and

other civilizations

Early influence of Islam elite tended to be educated inArabic and learned the sharia

Kinship-based politics rule was at village level, and werebasically extended families

Complex political identities some centralized kingdoms

mixed in with small village governance Democratic impulses rulers expected to seek counsel

and govern in the interests of the people


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Era Since Independence (1960Present)

Trends Parliamentary replaced by Presidential government in

1979 since majority was difficult to establish

Intensification of ethnic conflict Hausa-Fulani formed amajority coalition with Igbo, angering the Yoruba

Military rule frequent coups

Personalized rule and corruption

Federalism attempt to pacify ethnic tension, though

military leaders did not allow much local power Economic dependence on oil enriches those in power,

who ignore other sectors of the economy


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Era Since Independence (1960-Present)

Elected leadership in 1960, overthrown in military coupin 1966

3 more coups by 1976, Olusegun Obasanjo takes power Willfully steps down for democratically elected president in 1979

2 more coups by 1985, when Ibrahim Babangida takespower Resigned under public pressure in 1993 when he promised to

step down for civilian leadership, then voided the election

Sani Abacha (1993-1998) rules brutally, dies of a heart attack

(maybe poisoned?), replaced by Vice President Abubakar Obasanjo elected for 2 terms (1999-2007) Umaru YarAdua elected in 2007

All elections finished with concerns of fraud, violence, etc.


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Ibrahim Babangida

Military President,1985 1993

Resigned


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Sani Abacha

Military President,1993 1998

Died in office


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Olusegun Obasanjo

Military President,1976 1979 Resigned for democratic

leadership

President, 19992007 Term limited


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Umaru YarAdua

President, 20072010

Currently seriously ill,Vice PresidentGoodluck Jonathan is

the official actingpresident in his place


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Goodluck Jonathan

Acting President, 2010 Present


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Political Culture

Patron-Clientelism (prebendalism) - exchange ofpolitical and economic favors to build support ofthe leadership

State attempts to control rich civil society (andmostly fails) many independent associationalgroups still thriving

Tension between modernity and tradition

Religious conflict centered on role of sharia inlaw and political authority


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Geographic Influence

Northwest Hausa-Fulani,Muslim

Northeast Kanuri,Muslim

Middle-Belt smallergroups, mix of Muslim andChristian

Southwest Yoruba, mixof religions

Southeast Igbo, Catholicand Christian South various minorities


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Citizens, Society, and the State

Necessary condition for democratization:citizens need to have time to pay attentionand participate in the political process

Problem for Nigeria: 60% live in poverty

Large gap between rich and poor (Gini = 50.6)

Health issues AIDS epidemic (1 in 11 AIDScarriers are Nigerian)

Literacy 75.7% for men, 60.6% for women


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Cleavages one of the most fragmented societiesin the world Ethnicity 250 to 400 distinct ethnic groups with different

languages and religions in many cases Hausa-Fulani, Igbo, and Yoruba tribes are largest, but cant

speak each others languages and have no contact

generally

Religion 50% Muslim, 40% Christian, 10% variousnative religions

Disputes rooted in preferential treatment British gave toChristians, role of sharia in Nigerian law


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Cleavages one of the most fragmentedsocieties in the world Region North (predominantly Muslim) vs. South

(predominantly Christian) Urban/rural differences political organizations,

interest groups, media only operate in cities

Social class elite are those with ties to the

state, who often use the treasury to benefitthemselves


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Public Opinion and Political Participation Patron-Clientelism (prebendalism) local officials treat

public offices as personal fiefdoms

Civil Society many associational interest groups free tooperate, some strengthen Nigerian unity, others work tofragment society on ethnic/religious lines

Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP)founded by Ken Saro-Wiwa to get oil benefits for Ogoni

living in Niger Delta, hold oil companies to environmentalstandards

Saro-Wiwa was publicly executed in 1995


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Public Opinion and Political Participation

Voting Behavior no one knows how manyNigerians participate because of the irregularities

in their elections (estimates around 66%)

Attitudes Toward Government distrust of mostofficials, cynicism

Nigeria ranks 130 of 180 on the Corruption

Perception Index

Abachas heart attack was celebrated as the

coup from heaven


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Public Opinion and Political Participation

Protests, Participation, and Social Movements

Increasing protest and organization/mobilizationsince 1999

Often focused around international oil companies


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Linkage Institutions

Political Parties

Regionally based

Extreme factionalization resulted in developmentof so many parties, there is no coherent partysystem

Parties appear and disappear based on leaders


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Political Parties Currently:

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Obasanjo andYarAduas party of power, won in most parts of the country

with Southern and Northern candidates All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) General Muhammad

Buharis party Action Congress (AC) merger of many parties, led by Atiku

Abubakar (who was disqualified from running in 2007, thenreinstated by the Supreme Court days before the election)

These parties are becoming less regional, andincreasingly run a ticket with candidates of differentregions, campaigning across all of Nigeria


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Political Parties

Why?

1999 Constitutional requirement Winning presidential candidate must receive 25% of

votes cast in at least 2/3 of all states

Attempt to prevent regional candidates from winning thepresidency and unite Nigeria


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Elections Independent National Election Commission (INEC)

requires parties to qualify for national elections with atleast 5% of votes in 2/3 of states

Legislative 109 Senators elected by popular vote (3 per state, 1 from

Abuja) 360 House of Representatives elected in SMD plurality

elections

Presidential 2 ballot majority system (with the regional requirement)

All elections usually involve fraud and irregularities


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Interest Groups Pretty healthy, though influence is restricted by

corruption and prebendalism Labor Unions Babangida attempted to restrain their

influence through corporatism, but they are still active Business Interests historically collaborated with

military, now push for economic reforms Human Rights Groups protested Babangida and

Abacha, promote democracy Mass Media well developed, independent press in

Nigeria mostly in the South, also reflective of regionaldivisions


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State Institutions Bureaucracy assumed to be bloated, corrupt,

and inefficient Para-Statals privately owned, but headed by

government appointees (part of the patron-client network) Provide public utilities or major industries

Nigerian Electric Power Administration (NEPA)called NeverExpect Power Again by Nigerians

Changed name to Power Holding Company (PHC) calledPlease Hold Candle by Nigerians

State corporatism para-statals serve to give theappearance of public/private cooperation, while really givingthe state control


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State Institutions Legislature parliamentary until 1979, now

bicameral National Assembly Senators and Representatives serve 4 year terms, elected

the week before the president

Senate 109 Senators, 3 per state, 1 from Abuja

Very diverse given the different regions that are equallyrepresented

House of Representatives 360 members elected by SMD plurality

Very little power, but occasionally acts as a check onpresident (like when Obasanjo wanted a 3rd term)


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State Institutions Judiciary

Federal and state courts with an appeals process up tothe Supreme Court

Strong and autonomous after independence, but sinceravaged by military rule

Most judges today are not well versed in law, easilymanipulated by the government

Theoretically in charge of judicial review, not practically

Law is complicated by the sharia which operates in 12northern states, controversially


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State Institutions MilitaryGuess what? Its strong.

Military made distinctions between military in

government and military in barracks after early coups

Military in government presidents (like Babangida) had

to restrain influence of traditional military

Appointed senior military to cabinet positions to make thempart of his patronage network

The best place for young Nigerians to improve their lives,

demonstrate their talents Controversial, but it is the one national institution with the

capability to restore order


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Public Policy Issues in Nigeria

Oil Strength or Weakness? Brings wealth from rents and gives Nigeria international

clout, but makes Nigeria a rentier state

Structural Adjustment Collapse of oil prices in 1980s led to massive public debt

World Bank and IMF worked to restructure Nigerias debt

provided it would implement shock therapy and reduce

its dependence on oil Private economy still hasnt expanded much since,

parastatals still under state control

Documents

Comp Gov - 11 Nigeria