Democratising Nigerian politics: transcending the shadows of militarism

bibliographic database
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Periodical article

Title:	Democratising Nigerian politics: transcending the shadows of militarism
Author:	Obi, Cyril I.
Year:	2007
Periodical:	Review of African Political Economy
Volume:	34
Issue:	112
Pages:	379-384
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Nigeria
Subjects:	military regimes authoritarianism democratization civil-military relations
External link:	https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03056240701449752
Abstract:	One of the paradoxical features of the political transition(s) to democracy in Nigeria is that they have all been imposed by hegemonic bloc(s) within the military elite. Nigeria has inherited democracies from military generals. Such transition(s) have provided legitimacy for the political elite to monopolize State power, gain international credibility and control access to vast providential petroleum resources. These elite pacts that underscore Nigeria's political transitions have undermined democracy, precisely by adopting its platform and appearance to gain legitimacy, while blocking genuine democratic forces from participating in politics or limiting them to voting without choosing. A critical aspect of the deepening of democratic consolidation must involve the demilitarization of politics in Nigeria. A modest starting point is to forge a new impetus for democracy on the basis of a new political culture. Bibliogr. [ASC Leiden abstract]