Assessing Democratic Governance in the Nigerian Fourth Republic, 1999 -2014

Abstract

The paper assesses democratic governance in the Nigerian fourth republic. Most Nigerians expected the return to democratic governance on May, 29 1999 to set the stage for the socio-economic and political transformation of the country. The paper contends that the democratic experience has been problematic for Nigerians. The paper, underpinned by the elite theory, is descriptive, historical and analytical in nature and employs the secondary source in the gathering of data. The paper argues that the uninterrupted character of the democratic transition, improvement in civil and political rights and some economic development dividends are positive outcome of the democratic experience. Yet, the successes associated with the democratic experience seem to have been overshadowed by poor governance, the problems of poverty, de-industrialization, widespread unemployment, large scale collapse of infrastructure, illiteracy, insecurity of lives and property, political corruption, and weak governance institutions. Consequently, public trust in the democratic process, institutions and actors is in decline. The paper suggests amongst others, responsible and effective political leadership and civil society as critical to a productive democratic performance in Nigeria.

The Nigerian State and Democratic Governance: A Need for Revisitation of Democratic Ethos

“…However, when democratic governance began in 1999, most Nigerians had high hopes that the system would promote democratic ethos that would encourage constitutionalism, respect for human rights, the rule of law, accountability, transparency, popular participation and improve citizens' socio-economic well-being. Salisu and Avidime (2018) noted that the high hope expressed by most Nigerians was borne out of the recognition that in the previous republics, democratic governance was mismanaged by the political leadership and ruling elite with a great blight on the quality of governance, economic development and welfare of the people. It was also ruined by incessant military intervention.…”

“…The desired democratic ethos for the practice of democracy has not been attained. Salisu and Avidime (2018) observed that the country has witnessed the militarization of civil and electoral processes, a trend that is dangerous for democratic governance during this period. Omodia and Aliu (2013) further posit that, democratic governance in the Fourth Republic, to a large extent, has failed to guarantee minimum conditions of governance, deliver democratic dividends, and development.…”

An Examination of Legislature-Executive Crisis under the APC Led Democratic Governance in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic and Its Impact on Good Governance, 2015-2019

“…Therefore, the absence of a working democracy in a democratic system is tantamount to a failure of democratic governance. According to Ogbo and Avidime (2016), the return to democratic governance in 1999 was a welcome development amongst the Nigerians, but the experiences remained problematic for the country. Positive achievements like uninterrupted democratic transitions, economic dividends, improved political and civil rights were witnessed, but the level of success connected to the democratic experiences appeared to be outshone by poor governance.…”

“…They are instruments of good governance and democratic consolidation (Godswealth et al, 2016;Momodu, 2012;Momodu & Matudi, 2013;Oni, 2014;Osakede et al, 2017). In Nigeria, for instance, the return of presidential democracy in 1999 after many years of military rule, brought positive expectations to the people (Egbefo, 2015;Ogbo & Avidime, 2016;Oni, 2014;Yusuf, 2018). This was because it brought back civil rule, a multi-party system and the legislature as the mouthpiece of the public.…”

International Donor Agencies and Electoral Support in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic (1999-2015): The Missing Link

“…There were allegations of election rigging and malpractices, vote buying, violence, intimidation and strangulation of opposition, political thuggery and subversion of democratic principles. All these emanated from the nature of the political culture of the country of ethnoreligious politics and power domination for primitive accumulation of wealth and the faulty transition programme which was managed by the military with candidates anointed and a genuine choice was avoided deliberately (Adeosun, 2014, Oyediran & Nweke, 2014Usman & Avidine, 2016).…”