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NATIONAL QUESTION AND DEMOCRATIC CONSOLIDATION NIGERIA

Ayodele Charles Oluwasanmi, Ph.D

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Abstract

The emergence of the present democratic dispensation in May, 1999, has thrown up some new demands and challenges on the political landscape in the country. This study examines the influence of the national question on democratic consolidation in Nigeria from the perspective of the theory of federalism. The research design was largely qualitative and descriptive, using data from existing literature. The study established that Nigeria's federalism from the outset had some inbuilt problems that may be regarded as constituting the national question, such as ethno-religious conflicts, endless minority agitation for state creation, political corruption, power sharing, resource allocation, etc. The study equally reveals that in spite of the advances that have been made through various reforms by every successive administration to reduce the negative influence of the national question in Nigeria, there is no concrete solution to the problems. The study concludes that national questions and democratic consolidation are mutually self-reinforcing and are facing a common threat. The more these common threats are combated and Nigeria resolves to true federalism, the more the influence of the national question fizzles out, the more the nation is built, and the more Nigeria’s democracy becomes consolidated. The study advocated for a strong productive base and strong commitment to social welfare, at least a comprehensive, anticipatory and well-focused policy that would eliminate crises and poverty in the faces of the average Nigerian.

Keywords: National question, Democracy, Federalism and Democratic Consolidation