Nigeria

Country profile Former British colony (surrounded by former French colonies) Former British colony (surrounded by former French colonies) African “megastate” African “megastate” –Contains 1/5 of Africa’s population –Oil wealth –Large military –Many universities But also typical of African country But also typical of African country –Complicated power structure –ethnic, religious, and regional tensions –Coups, countercoups, and civil wars –Democratic (?) but “sick giant”

Precolonial Era (until late 1400s): “Many Nigerias” Southeast: Igbo (Ibo)  Unconnected villages/local gov’t. North: Hausa/Fulani  City-states with emirs  Muslim influence Southwest: Yoruba  Kingdoms  Rulers accountable to people

Colonial Era: 1400s-1960 Earliest European contact: trade/slave trade Earliest European contact: trade/slave trade British colony by late 19 th c. British colony by late 19 th c. –Originally divided North and South –“Nigeria” by 1914 –Authoritarian rule –Introduction of western values, education, Christianity –Increasing ethnic tensions

Independence: 1960 First Republic: First Republic: –British parliamentary model; did NOT work! (see Review Book for other republics and military dictatorships) (see Review Book for other republics and military dictatorships) Why such instability after 1966? Why such instability after 1966? –Agriculture –Petroleum –Disease –Population growth –urbanization

Political Culture: cumulative cleavages *Ethnicity *Ethnicity *Religion *Religion *Region *Region Urban-rural Urban-rural Social class Social class Language Language

OPEC members

Political Culture (con’t.) Preference for democracy Preference for democracy Gender politics Gender politics Political corruption Political corruption (Notice on Congress’s website) WARNING It has come to our notice that dishonest Nigerians are using the Nigeria Congress Web site for despicable activities. It has come to our notice that dishonest Nigerians are using the Nigeria Congress Web site for despicable activities. These Nigerian are mainly perpetrators of the reprehensible e- mail scamming practices that have become a national embarrassment.

Political Socialization Family Family Schools Schools Mass media Mass media The state The state Urban life Urban life Religion Religion

Civil Society Rich history (but as subjects rather than participants) Rich history (but as subjects rather than participants) Based on cleavages →centrifugal forces Based on cleavages →centrifugal forces Significant interest groups Significant interest groups –Labor unions (esp. Nigeria Labor Congress) –Business interests –Human rights groups –Professional groups Informal Informal –Patron-client networks (clientelism, prebendalism)

Political Participation Generally limited Generally limited Mostly through prebendalism (patron- client system) Mostly through prebendalism (patron- client system)

Political Parties Multi-party system Multi-party system Parties Parties –PDP (People’s Democratic Party) –ANPP (All-Nigeria People’s Party) –AC (Action Congress) Tendency to be ethnically-based Tendency to be ethnically-based

Elections Generally not a smooth process Generally not a smooth process Presidency Presidency –Must win at least 25% of votes in 2/3 of states –Must win outright majority or run-off (top 2) Congress Congress –Plurality, winner-take-all SMDs –4-year terms (week before presidential election) INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission) INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission) Recent elections Recent elections

Political Elite Northerners tend to dominate Northerners tend to dominate Top politicians Top politicians Bureaucrats Bureaucrats State/local State/local Big gap between elites and common people Big gap between elites and common people

Structure of Government Ever changing! Ever changing! Constitutions Constitutions –1960 –1963 –1979 –1989 –1999 Federalism Federalism –36 states (up from 12) and Federal District –774 local gov’ts

Executive Branch: Presidential System President President –head of gov’t., state, & military –Max two 4-yr terms VP VP Cabinet/ministers Cabinet/ministers Bureaucracy Bureaucracy Para-statals: state corporatism Para-statals: state corporatism

Inst. of Government: Legislature National Assembly National Assembly –Senate –House of Representatives –4-year terms Unified gov’t. since 1999 branches hold very different views Unified gov’t. since 1999 branches hold very different views Beginning to be check on president? Beginning to be check on president?

Inst. of Government: Judiciary Independent? Independent? Federal level Federal level States and Capital District (picture of Court of Appeal) States and Capital District (picture of Court of Appeal)

Military Probably most national force in Nigeria Probably most national force in Nigeria Mostly from north Mostly from north Role in government Role in government –Generally very large, though less recently –Today, “military in government” vs. “military in barracks”

Policymaking Big issue = lack of performance! Big issue = lack of performance! Role of oil Role of oil –Rentier state; much federal revenue –Corruption –Issue of census

Current Policy Issues “national question” “national question” Dependence on oil Dependence on oil Failure to provide basic needs to people Failure to provide basic needs to people Poverty Poverty Corruption Corruption African leader? African leader? Democratization? Democratization?