Case Study: Nigeria

When did Nigeria gain independence and what type of government was initially established?

Nigeria gained independence from the UK on October 1, 1960, under a parliamentary federal government

What major conflict occurred in 1967 and how did it end?

In 1967, the Igbo seceded and formed the Republic of Biafra, which led to a civil war ending in 1970 with Biafra being reintegrated into Nigeria.

When did Nigeria transition to a presidential system and who was the first president to willingly step down?

Nigeria became a presidential system in 1979 during the Second Republic. Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo stepped down willingly.

What marked the beginning of the Fourth Republic?

The Fourth Republic began in 1999 with the election of Olusegun Obasanjo after Gen. Abubakar transitioned the country to civilian rule.

What was significant about the 2015 presidential election?

It marked the first peaceful and democratic transfer of power to a different party, with Muhammadu Buhari defeating Goodluck Jonathan.

What type of regime does Nigeria currently have?

Nigeria has a federal presidential system with a bicameral legislature and a common law judiciary

What are the legislative bodies in Nigeria?

The National Assembly consists of the House of Representatives (360 seats) and the Senate (109 seats).

What is the Federal Character Principle?

It mandates that cabinet members come from each of Nigeria’s 36 states to ensure diverse representation.

Who is the current president of Nigeria and how are presidents elected?

President Bola Tinubu. Presidents are elected via single-member district plurality but must win 25% of the vote in at least 2/3 of the states.

How many major ethnic groups are in Nigeria and which are the largest?

Nigeria has over 250 ethnic groups; the three largest are the Hausa, Yoruba, and Igbo.

What effect did colonialism have on ethnic division?

Colonial rule emphasized regional identities (e.g., through the 1946 Richards Constitution), weakening national unity and encouraging ethnic-based loyalty.

How are ethnicity and politics connected in Nigeria?

Politicians manipulate ethnic and religious sentiments for personal gain, fueling division and instability

What movements have emerged due to ethnic grievances?

Examples include the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) (militant group in Nigeria that emerged in the early 2000s. It aims to fight for the rights of local communities in the oil-rich Niger Delta, who suffer from poverty, pollution, and neglect despite the region's vast oil wealth. MEND has carried out attacks on oil facilities and kidnappings to pressure the government and oil companies to address environmental damage, corruption, and unfair distribution of oil revenues.) and Boko Haram (terrorist group, The group opposes Western education and seeks to establish an Islamic state governed by strict Sharia law)

What is the main dependent variable analyzed by Mbao and Osinibi?

Unrest and poverty in Nigeria, including fears of state disintegration due to ethnic tensions

What are the key independent variables they examine?

Colonialism, the colonial legacy in the legal system, rentier state dynamics (refer to how a country’s political and economic systems are shaped when the government earns a large portion of its income from rent — money from natural resources like oil, gas, or minerals, rather than from taxes or production by the people), and corruption.

What constitutional issue do they highlight?

Socio-economic rights in Chapter II of Nigeria’s Constitution are not justiciable, making them unenforceable. (The Constitution sets goals like welfare, freedom, and equality for all, but the socio-economic rights related to these goals (like housing or healthcare) are non-justiciable—meaning they cannot be enforced in court. They guide government policy but aren't legally binding.)

What is their main argument?

Nigeria’s problems are less about colonialism and more about post-colonial governance failures, including corruption and lack of sincere development efforts (The passage argues that if Nigeria sincerely fights corruption and invests in development to improve living conditions, ethnic tensions and feelings of marginalization will decrease. It also suggests that outdated laws from before independence should be revised or removed.)

What solution do they propose?

Honest anti-corruption efforts and development policies to reduce ethnic marginalization and tensions

What is the issue with the federal character principle? (On test)

The Federal Character Principle was intended to promote national unity in Nigeria by requiring that government positions and appointments reflect the country’s ethnic and regional diversity. While the goal was to prevent domination by any single group and to ensure inclusion, the principle has become deeply problematic. It often leads to the selection of candidates based on their state of origin rather than their qualifications, which undermines meritocracy and contributes to inefficiency in governance. Additionally, it reinforces ethnic identities over national ones, encouraging citizens to view political power through the lens of ethnicity. This has not only weakened state institutions but also contributed to resentment and competition among ethnic groups, fueling further division and political instability