SUSTAINABLE DEMOCRACY AND NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA A CASE STUDY OF BENUE STATE

Abstract

This study is on sustainable democracy and national development in Nigeria a case study of Benue state. The total population for the study is 200 selected residents in Benue state. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made politicians, civil servants, youths and students was used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies

 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• Background of the study

For the past four decades or so, democracy has been an acceptable platform of intercourse among nations on the international plane. It is also most widely acceptable system of governing the people. The global acceptability of democracy stems from its ideals and ethics that it equips itself with. A major trend since the end of the cold war has been the enabling environment for enhancing the global propagation of the liberal democratic paradigm, incidentally, the democratic movement albeit rudimentarily, was flagged off in the colonial Nigeria with the benevolent introduction of the elective principle by the 1922 Clifford Constitution and invariably, through the introduction of party politics (Ajayi, 1998).

Everyone expected the return of Nigeria to democratic rule will bring about development. On the contrary Nigeria is still left behind in this sphere of human development. This has made many people still hold doubts on whether development is achievable under the present democratic dispensation due to growing insecurity, poverty, corruption and unemployment to mention but a few despite growing revenue. Nigeria is the fourth world largest democracy with a population of over 160 million and world sixth largest oil supplier and blessed with economic potentials (Abdullateef, 2010, Ibrahim, 2013) but majority of its population are poor (Ibrahim, 2013).

Essentially, the birth of democracy in Nigeria has endured for over a decade. It is therefore expected that democratic ethics and norms ought to have been inculcated and imbibed such that it becomes enduring and sustainable in Nigeria’s democratic experiment. The democratic trends in Nigeria are such that seems to reject the ethics of democracy. As Arowolo and Lawal (2009:172) have noted: “Present democratization process in Nigeria suffers from several problems. First, it is being carried out within inefficient and non-viable rules. Second, the process itself allows for manipulation of existing rules. Third, the counteracting agencies charged with policing and enforcement of the laws and those who work in those agencies are not properly constrained by the laws and INEC itself is not divested of this ‘pathology’ and as such cannot be relied upon to play a role expected of an umpire since it is the party in power that appoints its officials and funds its operation”. The growth and development of democracy depends largely on the practice of its ethics, ideals and norms as they serve as bedrock for democratic consolidation and sustainability. By and large, democracy has principles, which can also be described as rules guiding its practice, these rules or principles are otherwise regarded as democratic ethics or norms. Conformity to the latter manifests in good governance, infrastructural development and consequently national development. Be that as it may, democracy has been accepted as a model of governance, particularly, in developing societies including Nigeria. Unfortunately, the growth of democracy in Nigeria has remained stunted (Ajayi, 1998). This is as a result of the inability of our leaders to confine themselves to democratic ethics. This invariably manifest in poverty and under development.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The growth and development of democracy depends largely on the practice of its ethics, ideals and norms as they serve as bedrock for democratic consolidation and sustainability. By and large, democracy has principles, which can also be described as rules guiding its practice, these rules or principles are otherwise regarded as democratic ethics or norms. In Nigeria are we really abide to the norms and ethics of democracy that will bring development to the nation especially to people of Benue state. On this background the researcher wants to investigate sustainable democracy and national development in Nigeria a case study of Benue state

• OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The objectives of the study are;

1. To ascertain on the relationship between sustainable democracy and national development
2. To ascertain the impact of democracy in Benue state
3. To ascertain the level of development under the era of democracy in Nigeria
   • RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

For the successful completion of the study, the following research hypotheses were formulated by the researcher;

H₀:     there is no relationship between sustainable democracy and national development.

H₁:   there is relationship between sustainable democracy and national development

H₀₂:  there is no impact of democracy in Benue state

H₂:  there is impact of democracy in Benue state

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study will be significant to students, Benue state and the entire nation. It will give a clear insight on sustainable democracy and national development in Nigeria. The study will also serve as a reference to other researcher that will embark on this topic

1. 6 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The scope of the study covers sustainable democracy and national development in Nigeria. The scope of the study will be limited to Benue state. The researcher encounters some constrain which limited the scope of the study;

1. a) AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study
2. b) TIME: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.

1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS

DEMOCRACY: Democracy is a system of government where the citizens exercise power by voting. In a direct democracy, the citizens as a whole form a governing body and vote directly on each issue. In a representative democracy the citizens elect representatives from among themselves.

NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT: National development is the change in growth and development, which includes social, cultural and economic change. It is the ability of a country to improve the social welfare of the people. National development would be the expansion and growth of people in the a defined territory or government.