Nigeria Key Terms

All Progressives Congress (APC)

-Created in 2013 with the coalition of 4 opposition parties in anticipation of the 2015 elections

-In 2015 & 2019 elections, APC won the presidency and both houses of the legislature (short of absolute majority)

-Center-left party

ANC

African National Congress; Oldest and largest black political organization in South Africa. Banned in 1960 after the -> Sharpeville Massacre, and its leaders (notably Nelson Mandela) imprisoned or exiled, it aimed to overthrow white rule in South Africa and to destroy-> apartheid.

Biafra

-Igbo fight for independence for their land from the country of Nigeria in 1960-1979

-As a result, country could only remain together under military rule

Boko Haram

Islamist militant group that kidnapped more than 200 girls from their boarding school in northeastern Nigeria, in April

Buhari, Muhammadu

President of Nigeria

-Former Military Dictator

-Succeeded Goodluck Jonathan in 2015, marking the first time in Nigeria's history than an incumbent elected President peacefully transferred power to an elected leader of the opposition

Colonialism

Attempt by one country to establish settlements and to impose its political, economic, and cultural principles in another territory.

Constitutionalism

Basic principle that government and those who govern must obey the law; the rule of law

Corruption/CPI

a measure developed by Transparency International that "ranks countries in terms of the degree to which corruption is perceived to exist among public officials and politicians…Range 10 (high clean) to 0 (high corrupt).

Democratization

A process of transition as a country attempts to move from an authoritarian form of government to a democratic one.

Dependency Theory

a model of economic and social development that explains global inequality in terms of the historical exploitation of poor nations by rich ones

ECOWAS

Economic Community of West African States

Ethnonationalism

The identification and loyalty a person may feel for his or her nation.

Hausa-Fulani

Muslim groups which dominate the northern half of country (29%)

Igbo (Ibo)

Mostly Christian; live in SE oil-producing region (18%)

Independent National Election Commission (INEC)

the electoral body set up in 1998 to oversee elections in Nigeria. In order to run candidates for the legislative and presidential elections of 1999, a party had to qualify by earning at least 25% of the votes in 2/3 of the states in the December 1998 local elections.

Indirect rule

Colonial government in which local rulers are allowed to maintain their positions of authority and status

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

an international organization that acts as a lender of last resort, providing loans to troubled nations, and also works to promote trade through financial cooperation

Jonathan, Goodluck

President of Nigeria from 2010 to 2015 (PDP)

Military rule

Rule by one or more military officials, often brought to power through a coup d'état.

National Assembly

The legislature in Nigeria

-Senate
-House of Representatives

Nigeria Labor Congress

organized successful general strike in 2007 against elimination of gas subsidies

Obasanjo, Olusegun

Military ruler from 1976-1979 and two term elected president, from 1999-2007

OPEC

Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

Parastatals

Companies owned or controlled by the state.

Plurality vote

vote in which the winner needs to win more votes than any other candidate

Prebendalism/Clientelism/Patron-client system

Prebendalism is the extreme practice of clientelistic networks, which is present in Nigeria. The government battle corruption constantly, a form of which is providing government jobs and pay to others in exchange for favors or loyalty.

Regime change

the replacement of a country's government with another government by facilitating the deposing of its leader or leading political party

Rentier state

A country that obtains much of its revenue from the export of oil or other natural resources.

Rule of law

principle that the law applies to everyone, even those who govern

Sharia Law

the system of Islamic law, based on varying degrees of interpretation of the Qu'ran

State corporatism

a political system in which the state requires all members of a particular economic sector to join an officially designated interest group

Structural adjustment program

-The program sought to restructure and diversify the Nigerian economy so that it could decrease its dependence on oil.

-The government also pledged to reduce government spending and to privatize its parastatals.

-This "shock treatment" has had mixed results, but generally timelines for debt repayment have been restructured because Nigeria could not keep up with its payments.

The "National Question"

Should Nigeria stay together or not?

The People's Democratic Party (PDP)

-controlled the government from 1999 - 2015

-Center-right on political spectrum

-Support free market reforms yet promote social welfare and anti-poverty measures

World Bank

an international bank that offers low-interest loans, advice, and information to developing nations

Yoruba

Split btw Muslim, Christian, and indigenous religions; dominate SW third of country (including Lagos) (21%)

President Bola Tinubu

Current President of Nigeria, elected in 2023 under All Progressive Congress (APC)