1 - THE CHALLENGES OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE IN NIGERIA SINCE 1999
Corresponding Author(s) : ADESOTE, S. Adesola
Identity, Culture and Politics,
Vol. 19 No. 1-2 (2018): Identity, Culture and Politics: An Afro - Asian dialogue
Abstract
With the return to democratic rule in 1999, hope was built in the citizens that things will
change for the better. Such enthusiasm was premise on the believe that democratic governance
will facilitate the delivery of dividends of democracy in terms of social welfare, justice, equity, and
equal access to resources and power; promote good governance; and sound management of the
nation’s resource. This paper, therefore, examines major challenges facing democratic governance
in Nigeria since the return to civil rule in 1999. It argues that these challenges of democratic
governance among which are corruption, leadership crisis, electoral fraud, constitutional challenge
among others have affected the institutionalization of constitutional democracy in the country, thus
making it a mirage. It concludes that, accountability and transparency in governance, adherence
to ethical principles of democracy among others are not only germane to the promotion of good
governance but also constitute major features of making a country a democracy
Keywords
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- Abimbola, J.O & Adesote, S.A.(2012). The Challenge of Internal Democracy and Democratic
- Consolidation Nigeria: A Historical Analysis. Being the Proceedings of the 4th Annual Conference of
- School of Arts and Social Sciences, Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo on Socio-Political Conflicts
- and Challenges of Democratic Consolidation in Nigeria, 23rd-26th April, 2012. Pp330-343
- Abimbola, J.O & Adesote, S.A.(2011). Corruption and Infrastructure Development in Nigeria. A way
- forward mechanism. Being the Proceedings of the 56th Annual Congress of the Historical Society of
- Nigeria on Economy and Society in Nigeria: The Challenges of Infrastructure Development held at
- Osun State University, Osogbo from 31st October -2nd November, 2011.Pp1-15
- Abimbola, J.O & Adesote, S.A.(2011).”Terriorism and National Security in the Niger Delta Area of
- Nigeria”. In National Security and Resource Management in Nigeria. Babatolu, J.S & Ikuejube Gbade
- (eds) School of Arts and Social Sciences, Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo. Chapter Five Pp40-
- Achebe, C (2009).The Education of a British Protected Child. USA: Knopf Publisher
- Agbaje, A &Adejumobi, S (2006).Do Votes Count? The Travails of Electoral Politics in Nigeria. Africa
- Development, Vol. XXXI, No. 3, pp. 25–44
- Arisi, F.O & Ukadike, O. J. (2011) Good Governance, A Panancea for Peace and Stability in Nigeria
- Nation. European Journal of Scientific Research, Vol.55 No.3. Pp.413-418
- Conable, B.B (1997). ‘’ Reflection on Africa, the priority of Six – year Africa in Economic Development’’,
- An Address Delivered by the President of the World Bank, September 26, 1987
- Danjibo, N.D. (2009). Islamic Fundamentalism and Sectarian Violence: The ‘Maitatsine’ and ‘Boko
- Haram’ Crises in Northern Nigeria. Peace and Conflict Studies Paper Series, Institute of African Studies,
- University of Ibadan, 1-21
- Dode, O.R (2010) Political parties and the prospects of democratic consolidation in Nigeria: 1999 –
- African Journal of Political Science and International Relations Vol. 4(5), pp. 188-194
- http://www.academicjournals.org/ajpsir
- Dower, A. (2000). Good Governance: Guiding Principle for Implementation. Australia,
- Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
- Gambri, I.A (2008). The Challenges of Nation Building: The case of Nigeria. A paper presented at First
- Year Anniversary Lecture of Mustapha Akinbi Foundation, Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, Nigeria, 7th
- February, 2008
- Inokoba, P.K. and Kumokor, I (2011). “Electoral Crisis, Governance and Democratic Consolidation in
- Nigeria” Journal of Social Sciences 27(2), pp.139-148
- Lawal, G (2007) “Corruption and Development in Africa: Challenges for Political and Economic
- Change”. Humanity & Social Sciences Journal 2 (1): 01-07
- Ndiulor, T. (1999). Price Nigeria is paying for Corruption. The Guardian, March 17. p1
- Odeh, L.E. (2004) Analysis of Factors Inhibiting Democracy and Democratisation in Nigeria, 1999-
- The Fourth Republic in Nigeria: A decade of Democratisation Reviewed.Talla Ngarka Sunday(ed)
- Abuja: Aboki Publishers
- Ojaide F (2000)“The professional Accountant and Anti Corruption Crusade” in ICAN News -
- July/September.
- Olu-Adeyemi, Lanre (2012). The Challenges of Democratic Governance in Nigeria International
- Journal of Business and Social Science Vol. 3 No. 5
- Omojeje, A.V & Adesote, S.A. (2011). Resource Control Conflicts and Security in the Niger Delta Area
- of Nigeria. African Journal of Social Research and Development. A Journal of Across Africa
- Information Services Centre, Accra, Ghana.Vol 3, Number 2, pp101-110
- Omotola, J.S (2007). Democratization, Good Governance and Development In Africa: The Nigerian
- Experience. Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa Vol 9, No.4, Pp.247-274
- Osumah, O & Ikelegbe, A (2009).The Peoples Democratic Party and Governance in Nigeria, 1999-
- Journal of Social Sciences, 19(3), Pp185-199 (2009)
- Seward, SV.I (1998) .The Terms of Democracy. Polity Press, USA.
- Transparency International, (2000) Commitment to fight corruption, http//www.transparcny.org.
- Transparency International, (2009) Commitment to fight corruption, http//www.transparcny.org.
- Governance, Democracy and Development in Africa: A Cultural Approach. A Paper
- presented by the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), at the International
- Conference on the Cultural Approach to Development in Africa. (Organized by African Institute for
- Economic Development and Planning – IDEP - at Dakar, Senegal, 10-14 December 2001)
References
Abimbola, J.O & Adesote, S.A.(2012). The Challenge of Internal Democracy and Democratic
Consolidation Nigeria: A Historical Analysis. Being the Proceedings of the 4th Annual Conference of
School of Arts and Social Sciences, Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo on Socio-Political Conflicts
and Challenges of Democratic Consolidation in Nigeria, 23rd-26th April, 2012. Pp330-343
Abimbola, J.O & Adesote, S.A.(2011). Corruption and Infrastructure Development in Nigeria. A way
forward mechanism. Being the Proceedings of the 56th Annual Congress of the Historical Society of
Nigeria on Economy and Society in Nigeria: The Challenges of Infrastructure Development held at
Osun State University, Osogbo from 31st October -2nd November, 2011.Pp1-15
Abimbola, J.O & Adesote, S.A.(2011).”Terriorism and National Security in the Niger Delta Area of
Nigeria”. In National Security and Resource Management in Nigeria. Babatolu, J.S & Ikuejube Gbade
(eds) School of Arts and Social Sciences, Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo. Chapter Five Pp40-
Achebe, C (2009).The Education of a British Protected Child. USA: Knopf Publisher
Agbaje, A &Adejumobi, S (2006).Do Votes Count? The Travails of Electoral Politics in Nigeria. Africa
Development, Vol. XXXI, No. 3, pp. 25–44
Arisi, F.O & Ukadike, O. J. (2011) Good Governance, A Panancea for Peace and Stability in Nigeria
Nation. European Journal of Scientific Research, Vol.55 No.3. Pp.413-418
Conable, B.B (1997). ‘’ Reflection on Africa, the priority of Six – year Africa in Economic Development’’,
An Address Delivered by the President of the World Bank, September 26, 1987
Danjibo, N.D. (2009). Islamic Fundamentalism and Sectarian Violence: The ‘Maitatsine’ and ‘Boko
Haram’ Crises in Northern Nigeria. Peace and Conflict Studies Paper Series, Institute of African Studies,
University of Ibadan, 1-21
Dode, O.R (2010) Political parties and the prospects of democratic consolidation in Nigeria: 1999 –
African Journal of Political Science and International Relations Vol. 4(5), pp. 188-194
http://www.academicjournals.org/ajpsir
Dower, A. (2000). Good Governance: Guiding Principle for Implementation. Australia,
Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
Gambri, I.A (2008). The Challenges of Nation Building: The case of Nigeria. A paper presented at First
Year Anniversary Lecture of Mustapha Akinbi Foundation, Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, Nigeria, 7th
February, 2008
Inokoba, P.K. and Kumokor, I (2011). “Electoral Crisis, Governance and Democratic Consolidation in
Nigeria” Journal of Social Sciences 27(2), pp.139-148
Lawal, G (2007) “Corruption and Development in Africa: Challenges for Political and Economic
Change”. Humanity & Social Sciences Journal 2 (1): 01-07
Ndiulor, T. (1999). Price Nigeria is paying for Corruption. The Guardian, March 17. p1
Odeh, L.E. (2004) Analysis of Factors Inhibiting Democracy and Democratisation in Nigeria, 1999-
The Fourth Republic in Nigeria: A decade of Democratisation Reviewed.Talla Ngarka Sunday(ed)
Abuja: Aboki Publishers
Ojaide F (2000)“The professional Accountant and Anti Corruption Crusade” in ICAN News -
July/September.
Olu-Adeyemi, Lanre (2012). The Challenges of Democratic Governance in Nigeria International
Journal of Business and Social Science Vol. 3 No. 5
Omojeje, A.V & Adesote, S.A. (2011). Resource Control Conflicts and Security in the Niger Delta Area
of Nigeria. African Journal of Social Research and Development. A Journal of Across Africa
Information Services Centre, Accra, Ghana.Vol 3, Number 2, pp101-110
Omotola, J.S (2007). Democratization, Good Governance and Development In Africa: The Nigerian
Experience. Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa Vol 9, No.4, Pp.247-274
Osumah, O & Ikelegbe, A (2009).The Peoples Democratic Party and Governance in Nigeria, 1999-
Journal of Social Sciences, 19(3), Pp185-199 (2009)
Seward, SV.I (1998) .The Terms of Democracy. Polity Press, USA.
Transparency International, (2000) Commitment to fight corruption, http//www.transparcny.org.
Transparency International, (2009) Commitment to fight corruption, http//www.transparcny.org.
Governance, Democracy and Development in Africa: A Cultural Approach. A Paper
presented by the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), at the International
Conference on the Cultural Approach to Development in Africa. (Organized by African Institute for
Economic Development and Planning – IDEP - at Dakar, Senegal, 10-14 December 2001)