AP Comparative Government & Politics - Nigeria

Flashcards on Nigeria's government and politics.

Fourth Republic

The current form of government in Nigeria since 1999, with 36 states united by a central national government in Abuja.

1960

The year Nigeria achieved independence from Britain.

Ethnicity

A major source of division in Nigeria, with more than 250 distinct groups identified.

Religion (Muslim-Christian divide)

A major source of division in Nigeria, characterized by an intense divide.

Coups d’état

Military interventions in response to complaints from disaffected groups and the threat of violence.

Scramble for Africa

The early period when European powers colonized nearly the entire African continent.

Northwest Nigeria

Region in Nigeria populated by the Hausa-Fulani people, who are predominantly Islamic.

Northeast Nigeria

Region in Nigeria populated by many smaller ethnic groups, the largest of which is the Kanuri, and is predominantly Islamic.

Middle Belt Nigeria

Region in Nigeria that is highly mixed ethnically and religiously, with no major geographic divides.

Southwest Nigeria

Region in Nigeria dominated by the Yoruba people, who are mixed religiously.

Southern Delta Nigeria

Region in Nigeria with the highest concentration of oil deposits, often the center of conflict over resource rights.

Southeast Nigeria

Region in Nigeria dominated by the Igbo people, who are predominantly Christian and the most densely populated.

Prebendalism

Nigerian version of patron-clientelism, where tribal loyalty surpasses obligations to the state.

Prebend

Refers to the right of a member of a cathedral to a share of the revenue the cathedral generates.

First Republic

The structure of government mimicked the British parliamentary system, with a single parliamentary house exercising nearly all political authority.

1966 Coup

Southern generals organized a coup d’état in which they assassinated the prime minister and leading North region officials, taking control of all institutions of the government

Biafra

Southern Igbo state that seceded in 1967, attempting to take full control of the oil royalties paid by BP and Shell.

General Olusegun Obasanjo

Ended military rule and created a new republican constitution.

Second Republic

Mirrored the American constitution’s system of federalism and presidential government.

Ibrahim Babangida

Imposed a transition process to end military rule and create a new republican constitution.

General Sani Abacha

Radical economic development, ending Babangida’s privatization initiatives, increasing Nigeria’s foreign cash reserves, and reducing Nigeria’s debt and rate of inflation

General Abubakar

Reviving the structure of the constitution of the Second Republic, with federalism and a presidential government.

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

Created to oversee the elections that would bring Nigeria into the Fourth Republic.

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

A union of fifteen West African countries who have agreed to create a free-trade zone and explore further opportunities for economic integration.

West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ)

A subset of ECOWAS, which aims to unify monetary policy among its six members, and create a common currency, usually referred to as the eco.

Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democracy Index

Organization to which Nigeria ranks 109 out of 167 countries, classifying it as a hybrid regime.

Rentier State

Oil has turned Nigeria into this type of state and it is dependent upon activities of foreign corporations to fund the state's operations.

Movement to Emancipate the Niger Delta (MEND)

Cause is to deliver the benefits of oil revenues to the localized community that actually lives on top of the oil in the Niger Delta.

Boko Haram

Islamic jihadist group, who has used terrorism and kidnapping to attempt to stop the expansion of education and economic opportunities to women and girls.

Thirty-six states

Elects three Senators, and the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja also elects one, for a total of 109 Senators.

Parastatal Agencies

These are technically privately owned, but they are overseen and staffed at the top levels by appointees of the president, making them effectively part of the state and the patron-client network of patrimonialism.

People’s Democratic Party (PDP)

Created to build a national, rather than regional base of support by including both northern and southern candidates on its national ticket, and recruiting members from all parts of the country into the patron-client network of support.

All Progressives Congress (APC)

Encouraging government intervention to regulate the market on behalf of the poor, but was more socially conservative in its rhetoric.

Presidential Election

In order to declare a winner after the first round, the candidate must receive at least 25 percent of the vote in at least two-thirds of the states.