May 09, 2011 there is no doubt that the constitutional development process in nigeria from pre independence to the post of era is very interesting. Pdf nigerian parties and political ideology researchgate. Shows nearly all of the gargantuan politicians of the day. Apr 20, 2018 download complete project materials on historical development of political parties in nigeria from chapter one to five with references introduction.
In preindependence era, party politics in nigeria was based on ethnic factor. Political corruption is widespread in contemporary societies, and is regarded by some analysts of the third world as the single most important obstacle to economic development and political integration. History of political parties in nigeria nigerian finder. Mar 31, 2020 constitutional development in nigeria. By october 1960, the month of nigerias independence, political. The party was majorly populated by the hausafulani from the north. Since colonial incursion and the attainment of political independence, nigeria like other erstwhile colonial possessions have inculcated the westminsterstyled political system at independence influenced tremulously by an elite class that projects the political culture which could make or mar democracy as a result of the political. For now, a lot of positives may not be taken away from. Political instability in africa may owe much of its cause to internal factors, however the interpenetration of internal and external factors especially geo political and economic interests of the international community constantly play a significant role in undermining the very processes. Independence from british rule came to pass in nigeria on the 1 st of october, 1960. African states tended to oneparty system, and though opposition parties are emerged they. Mar 09, 2020 still on the constitutional development in nigeria from 1914 till date post independence constitutional era.
The history of political parties in nigeria began when the first political party in nigeria was established in 1959, the year before nigeria gained her independence from great britain. The hisrory and development of political parties in nigeria. Under the constitution, each of the three regions retained a substantial measure of selfgovernment. In the pre independence and the early post independence periods, political parties in nigeria were not ideologically based. For 32 out of 49 years since independence, nigeria has been under. In its entirety, a constitution is a set of organizing principles, laws or rules by which a state, country, group or region is governed. Political clientelism and the independence of political office holders in nigeria and national development ayaka simon silas umaru musa yaradu university, katsina, nigeria moneybags have hijacked the political process and party politics in nigeria. Resentment amongst southern politicians precipitated into political chaos in the country. Shows nearly all of the gargantuan politicians of the day the big guns, heralded by. Original contribution political parties and party politics in.
Lesson 4 quiz due sep 17, 2017 question 1 0 1 pts when political independence first ca. Posts about postindependence party politics in nigeria written by naudigitallibrary. The african ejournals project has digitized full text of. One of the strategies employed by politicians to win support was to make promises of material assistance. Are these heady days for nigerian political parties. For 32 out of 55 years since independence, nigeria was under military rule. Political party and party system support in nigeria is unfolding in a climate of political. Review of international assistance to political party and party system. In some cases, this led to innovation, but the many challenges that african states faced at independence were often compounded by the lack of experienced leadership. At nigerias independence, the northern region gained more seats in parliament than both eastern and western regions combinedthis would cement northern dominance in nigerian politics for years to come. Numerous ancient african civilizations settled in the region that is today nigeria, such as the kingdom of nri, the benin empire, and the oyo empire. Postindependence african political system is characterized by ethnic based exclusion and marginalization.
Reasons for military intervention in nigerias politics. Aug 01, 2019 presidents and military leaders of nigeria since independence. The transition to national officers at independence meant there were individuals at all levels of the bureaucracy with little prior training. Post independence history of nigeria nigeria was granted full independence in october 1960, as a federation of three regions northern, western, and eastern under a constitution that provided for a parliamentary form of government. Mar 10, 2016 interesting historic video of an important time during the renaissance of the 1960s in eastern nigeria. Key events, characteristics and themes of postcolonial nigeria overview rather than simply organizing a chronological analysis of postcolonial nigeria, it is more helpful to identify key themes of the gatekeeper state in relation to the historical backdrop of the country and several key events in the late 20th century cooper 2002, 173174. Interesting historic video of an important time during the renaissance of the 1960s in eastern nigeria.
Political instability in africa where the problem lies and. Adewale the political economy of a country is pivotal to its economic dynamics as well as its social system. Pdf a contextual analysis of party system formation in nigeria. Pdf this article investigates the parties and party systems in nigeria since. The emphasis on the postcolonial period is to shed fresh light. Democracy in postindependence nigeria western africa. In the preindependence and the early post independence periods, political parties in nigeria were not ideologically based. The political, economic and social dynamics of nigeria.
Bulletin, 2006, be it money stolen by the political elite the case of mobutu of zaire, abacha of nigeria, and moi of kenya, just to mention a few or the recent kibaki regime angloleasing scandals in kenya, they still end up in banks in the western capitals. Political communications in colonial nigeria media ownership in colonial nigeria was dominated by missionaries, colonial administrators, nationalists, political parties, politicians and private foreign organizations. Download complete project materials on historical development of political parties in nigeria from chapter one to five with references introduction. The post 2015 election period consequently provides an opportunity for a critical examination of cost of politics in nigeria, and for parliament in particular. Enduring lessons and opportunities for youth in africa a discussion paper prepared by professor amadu sesay, centre for peace and strategic studies, university of ilorin, nigeria for the mandela institute for development studies, johannesburg, south africa july 11 2014. It is widely believed that, by comparison with other developing regions, africas post independence development record has been one of failure. United national independence party unip the political leaders who led the campaigns on behalf of the threedominant regional and ethnicbased political parties were.
Nigeria was approximately onefifthof africas total popula tion. The last decade of the twentieth century was characterised by a resurgence of multipartism in africa. The preindependence constitutions were largely to promote the economic interest of britain. Political instability in africa may owe much of its cause to internal factors, however the interpenetration of internal and external factors especially geopolitical and economic interests of the international community constantly play a significant role in undermining the very processes. A third and final area of constitutional challenge which i want to share with you is about the principles for sharing power at the different levels of government. Nollywood nigeria pre and post independence politics. For instance, while the 1922 clifford constitution gave birth to the first political party in nigeria known as the nigerian national democratic. Nnamdi azikwe ncnc chief obafemi awolowo ag they campaigned vigorously across the length and breadth of nigeria. The return of political parties produced a discontinuity not only in the continents political life, but also in the study of african politics. Historical development of political parties in nigeria. Postindependence party politics in nigeria nnamdi azikiwe. Public commissions established by the 1979 and subsequent constitutions. Political parties in nigeria are institutions set up for healthy competition among those vying for particular government offices in the land and there is a need to know and understand how nigerian politics and political parties have evolved by looking into the history of political parties in nigeria. The ncnc espoused selfdetermination for ethnic minorities but only in accordance with its advocacy of a unitary state.
It is a deterioration of such situation that finally replaces the will of the people with the will of one man, the dictator, who then proceeds to personalize the state. This was the year nigeria assumed both political and military control of its territory. Explaining africas postindependence development experiences. After the founding of a republic in 1960, the state became identified with a single political party the cpp, with nkrumah, as life president of both, taking ever more power for himself. The pre independence constitutions were largely to promote the economic interest of britain. Nigeria pre and post independence politics youtube. Before the elections, and based on the federal department of statistics projection of nigerias population to be 31,559,026, the political parties all agreed that there.
Post independence history of nigeria kingdoms of nigeria. Part 1 below examines the evidence on this and the remainder of the paper is taken up with examining explanations of this record. The three political parties were the national council of nigeria and the cameroons ncnc. The deliberate attempt to examine political developments in nigeria became necessary as a result of the consequences of nigerians expectations of what democracy should be, or the results people expect to gain from this new form of governance. A portrait of nnamdi azikiwe, the first president of independent nigeria. Political leadership and corruption in nigeria since 1960. Available records on the history of the political development of nigeria since independence have shown that the reins of government has always fallen into the hands of a political leadership class that showed more interest in private, group or ethnic gains than in the general wellbeing of the nigerian state. The development of political parties in nigeria dates back to the days of the struggle for political independent in the late 1940s, when the nationalists were at the preindependence and postindependence. There is no doubt that the political parties in nigeria after independence equally contributed to the reason why the military intervened in nigerias politics. It is widely believed that, by comparison with other developing regions, africas postindependence development record has been one of failure. Pdf political ideology is an important vehicle of a political party. Nkrumah saw independent ghana as a spearhead for the liberation of the rest of africa from colonial rule and the establishment of a socialist african unity under his leadership. National council of nigeria and the cameroons ncnc. Political parties after independence was soo tribalistic that only members of a particular tribe was allowed to join certain political parties.
Nigerias political culture the impact of almost 30 years of a military regime can be seen at all levels of nigerias political and daily life. Institutions of government in the post independence nigeria. An overview of party formation in nigeria, 19601999 codesria. Political corruption in nigeria before independence the. The ncnc, now headed by azikiwe who had taken control after macaulays death in 1946, formed a coalition with balewas npc after neither party won a majority in the 1959. Nigeria was granted independence on october 1, 1960. Ethnic politics and democratic consolidation in nigeria. Constitutional development in nigeria from 1914 till date. Political parties and party politics in postindependence nigeria. An assessment of political parties and democratic consolidation in nigerias fourth republic mike omilusi, phd department of political science ekiti state university, nigeria abstract democratic values and practices are crucial for democratic institutionalization and the development of party strength.
A new constitution established a federal system with an elected prime minister and a ceremonial head of state. Presidents and military leaders of nigeria since independence. After independence the attitudes of the major parties toward the formation of new states that could accommodate minority aspirations varied widely. Digital library for online resource sharing among the. The first set of political parties to be formed in nigeria was formed in 1959, shortly before nigeria gained her independence from britain. In 1959, there were three political parties in the country and they include the following. The ncnc, now headed by azikiwe who had taken control after macaulays death in 1946, formed a coalition with balewas npc after neither party won a majority in the 1959 elections. The second political party was the northern peoples congress npc and it was led by ahmadu bello. African governance systems in the pre and postindependence periods.
Nigerias political independence was ushered in by the 12 december 1959 general elections into local councils, regional and federal legislatures. Jan 10, 2016 political history of nigeria since independence 1960 till date introduction by the time nigeria gained its independence, it was entering a period of rapid social and economic change, and many people were quite optimistic about its future. While politics and the process of politicking do not necessarily give rise to the social. Political parties in nigeria are institutions set up for healthy competition among those vying for particular government offices in the land and there is a need to know and understand how nigerian politics and political parties have evolved by. History and development of political parties in nigeria. The history of nigeria can be traced to prehistoric settlers nigerians living in the area as early as 1100 bc. Thus, the nature and pattern of party politics during colonialism was to a great extent determined by the constitutional concessions permitted by the british colonial system. Other political parties that were active in nigeria at that time were the action group with its dominance in the south western part of nigeria, the borno youth movement with its headquarters in borno state, democratic party of nigeria and cameroun, the. Moreover, our political parties should need to become little more than vehicles to deliver power to the highest bidders at local, state and federal levels. After the founding of a republic in 1960, the state became identified with a single political party the cpp, with nkrumah, as life president of both, taking ever more power. During the colonial period, the press served as a medium of sustained public debate and political protest, an uncompromising. Case study of the all progressives congress olakunle olowojolu lecturer department of political science and international relations, landmark university, omuaran, nigeria abstract right from the 1960s, both the ruling parties and the opposition parties are always at. The challenges african states faced at independence. Democracy in postindependence nigeria western africa magazine.
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