Nigeria Former British Colony Independent 1960 Largest country

Nigeria Former British Colony; Independent 1960 Largest country in Africa Federal (36 states), Presidential System of Government Democratic since 1999 Diverse Population (250 ethnic groups) Major resource is oil – foreign companies (Shell & BP)

Nigeria Humor

Nigeria at a glance • • • GDP per capita $2, 600 70 % of country lives on less than a dollar a day 92% of country lives on 2 dollars a day HIV/AIDS infections = over 9% of population Life expectancy – 40 years Infant mortality – 80/1, 000 births 1 doctor for every 5, 000 people Literacy rate 61% (lower for females) Estimated 40 million middle class Sources: Kessleman, World Bank, CIA World Fact Book

Three main ethnic groups in Nigeria: • Hausa-Fulani predominantly live in the north and are Muslim. • Igbo predominately live in the east and are Christian. Are most well educated and most likely to immigrate. • Yoruba predominately live in the west and practice traditional beliefs.

Military Rule

Democracy

Web Quest – What did you learn?

Nigeria – Tough Road to Democracy First Republic Parliamentary Rule (1960 -1966) • Northerners doctored the census results, stuffed ballot boxes, securing themselves a disproportionate majority in the legislature. • Took control of the legislature, selected Prime Minister, and began to (1) distribute state resources to the North and (2) implement national sharia law. • Igbo staged a coup in 1966 & country plunges into violence.

Nigeria – Civil War • Offshore Oil is discovered in 1966 in the predominantly Igbo region. Igbos realize if the coup fails they will loose oil revenues to the North. • The Igbo region launches a secessionist movement and attempt to form the country of “Biafra” • The North cuts off the Igbos food supply leading to mass starvation & Igbo surrender (1970). One million die in the civil war.

Military to Democratic Government & Back (1970 -1999) a few Highlights • Second and Third Republics Establish a Presidential system of Government. State boundary lines are redrawn several times to accommodate conflict between ethnic groups – the Capitol is moved to Abuja. • Military ruler Babangida allows foreign investment of oil (shell and BP). • Sani Abache is the most brutal and corrupt of all Nigerian dictators. Harsh/arbitrary repression of dissent, jailing of journalists. Execution of Ken Sarwo Wiwa and his supporters. Lines his pocket with oil money until his death – current government is still trying to retrieve his massive fortune from Swiss banks. • Establishment of INEC, an, independent vote counting organization to prevent fraud.

The Fourth Republic – Rules Established with accommodating diversity • Election Requirements for President – Two Ballot system with runoff requirement – ¼ of votes must be from 2/3 of states • Principle of Ethnic Rotation (President) • Political Party Registration Requirements (INEC) – Parties must earn at least 5% of votes in 24. 36 states, parties are still formed primarily around one main ethnic group. – Parties still organized around the “Big men” and do not have ideological platforms. People’s Democratic Party (PDP ) is dominant. • “Federal character” in the constitution calls for ethnic quotas in government hiring practices

Economic Policy & Debt in Nigeria • Role of NGO’s • Microcredit • World Bank/International Monetary Fund (IMF) • Import Substitution/Structural adjustment (SAP) • Debt – Causes – Consequences – Debt relief movement

Oil – A Blessing and a Curse • Who is MEND? • Why can’t Nigeria capitalize on it’s oil? • How is Oil a curse?

The North/South Divide & Gender Politics • Females in Northern Nigeria. Will girls be able to go to school? http: //www. pcnaf. org/ • The Miss World Pageant: A Political Disaster http: //www. pbs. org/frontlineworld/stories/nige ria/

Nigeria’s Leaders Second & Third Republics (1979 -1999) • What form of government was established? • Buhari • Abacha • Abubakar Fourth Republic(1999 -present) • Obasanjo • Yar’Adua • Goodluck Jonathan

Recent Nigerian Presidents • Obasanjo (1999 -07) -Northerner, Christian, former Military Leader, head of Transparency International. • Yar Adua (2007 -10) - Northerner, Muslim, former Chemistry teacher, won in a very close election with allegations of fraud. Very ill when elected and died in office. • Goodluck Jonathan (2010 -current) – Vice President under Yar’Adua and assumed power