Democratization and Development in Nigeria: The Fourth Republic in Perspective

Nigeria’s present democratization, which culminated in the country’s Fourth Republic on May 29, 1999, started amidst great hope and expectations. Since then, the nature of the democratic project has been the subject of debate in various circles. This paper is a contribution to the debate on democratization and development in Nigeria. It examines the nexus among the 'embattled duo,' using a contextual analysis of the Nigerian experience under the fourth republic. It argues that whereas democratization, defined as the process of transition to a stable/consolidated democracy, could be a harbinger of development. The paper notes that the present state of democratization in Nigeria gives cause for concern, as it tends towards the direction of disempowerment. While democratization has been on course Nigeria, it has not taken a firm root, because it has so far been pursued and predicated on alien institutions. Given this scenario, the paper suggests that there is an urgent need for a reversal of the trend, if democratization must be genuinely nurtured and sustained in Nigeria. The paper concludes that addressing the problem of democratization and development must involve all the stakeholders. This is a major step towards stabilizing and entrenching democracy in Nigeria.