Democratic Politics and Security Challenges in Nigeria: Retrospect and Prospect

Abstract

Any critical assessment of the evolution of democratic politics and security challenges in Nigeria is most likely to point to a troubling political future. The country’s ethnic and religious cleavages are not just severe and enduring; they have become its principal Achilles heel. The deep divides in the Nigerian society is exacerbated by the militarised nature of the state which is characterised by the use (or threat) of violence to settle political conflicts, the legitimisation of state violence, the continued domination of military values over civilian life, the brazen violation of human rights, extrajudicial killings and the gross repression of the people. This chapter analyses the evolution of democratic politics and continuing lack of success in entrenching liberal democracy in Nigeria. By examining the underlying causes of Nigeria’s purported imperviousness to the revival of effective democracy, the paper hopes to identify pertinent security challenges that have coalesced to impede her path to political stability and development.