Obasanjo’s Bid to Allow 3rd Term
Nigeria Seeks an Historic Accomplishment
Who will be Nigeria’s Next President?
Response Sheet for 2007 Election
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Category: AP Nigeria
Five Lazar Nigeria Lectures
Performance and Legitimacy in Nigeria's New Democracy
Your task is to use specific evidence from Peter M. Lewis� briefing paper Performance and Legitimacy in Nigeria’s New Democracy as published in the 2006 issue of “Afrobarometer” to analyze how democracy is perceived in Nigeria.
In order to succeed you must use AND cite both the Lewis document and Mundt and your textbook. Your analysis should be 1-2 single-spaced pages and must be posted below (the comments link) by the time class commences.
I advise you to structure your essay as follows, though you may deviate from this outline as you see fit (I likewise envision a thematic approach):
I.The implications of history: evolution towards democracy
II.Analysis of the state of democracy in Nigeria 2000-2007
III. An explication of citizen perceptions towards Nigerian democracy
IV.The implications of performance on legitimacy: what needs to be done?
Read the Lewis piece:
The candidates to be Nigeria's leader
As political parties in Nigeria pick their presidential candidates for the April 2007 elections, the BBC News website’s Senan Murray profiles the strongest of them. Read On
Worse Than Iraq?
With an ethnically and religiously combustible population of 130 million, Nigeria is lurching toward disaster, and the stakes are high—for both Nigeria and the United States. An OPEC member since 1971, Nigeria has 35.9 billion barrels of proven petroleum reserves—the largest of any African country and the eighth largest on earth. It exports some 2.5 million barrels of oil a day, and the government plans to nearly double that amount by 2010. Nigeria is the fifth-largest supplier of oil to the United States; U.S. energy officials predict that within ten years it and the Gulf of Guinea region will provide a quarter of America‘s crude.
It is hardly surprising, then, that since 9/11 the Bush administration has courted Nigeria as an alternative to volatile petro-states in the Middle East and Latin America. In 2002, the White House declared the oil of Africa (five other countries on the continent are also key producers) a “strategic national interest”—meaning that the United States would use military force, if necessary, to protect it. In short, Nigeria‘s troubles could become America‘s and, like those of the Persian Gulf, cost us dearly in blood and money.
Read more from Jeffrey Tayler here
AP Central
Corruption in Nigeria
Nigeria is ranked as one of the most corrupt countries in the world.
Daily, low-level corruption is visible on the street; policeman extorting money from motorists to supplement their meagre wages. But it is in the world of politics and government, where corruption has been most damaging. For decades the government has accrued huge oil revenues, yet the country suffers from a lack of basic infrastructure, and tens of millions live in poverty. At the same time, some politicians and their business associates have amassed personal fortunes.Although accusations of graft have long been a feature of Nigerian politics, as elections approach early next year, the politics of corruption have taken on a new powerful role.
The Democratic Transition in Nigeria
The election of Olusegun Obasanjo to the presidency of Nigeria in 1999 effectively brought an end to 16 years of military rule. Obasanjo became only the third head of government to be elected by the people (not counting the election of 1993, won by Chief Moshood Abiola but later annulled). Nigerians greeted the transition from military to civilian rule with widespread jubilation as they looked forward to a new era of stability, peace, and prosperity.
Who will be Nigeria's president?
The contest to succeed Olusegun Obasanjo as the presidential candidate of ruling People Democratic Party (PDP) has reached a critical juncture. Prospective candidates must submit their applications by November 28th, 2006, prior to an internal party screening process in early December and a vote at the PDP’s congress later that month.
Nigeria's oil violence
The Niger Delta holds some of the world’s richest oil deposits, yet Nigerians living there are poorer than ever, violence is rampant, and the land and water are foul. What went wrong?
for more depth and understanding read National Geographic’s Tom O’Neil on “The Curse of Black Gold: Hope and Betrayal in the Niger Delta”
Sebastain Junger’s February, 2007 contribution to Vanity Fair magazine is also very much worth reading. Read it Here
Not to be overlooked is this piece by Ken Wiwa (the son of the martyr) “Death rules the delta in battle to control oil”
Obasanjo's legacy to Nigeria
When President Olusegun Obasanjo leaves office at the end of May, Nigeria would have achieved its first democratic transfer of power from one civilian administration to another – in spite of the reluctance of the outgoing administration.
Read about Obasanjo’s legacy to Nigeria
Timeline: Nigeria
Chronolgy helps. Here’s a breif timeline of Nigerian history
Money and Violence Hobble Democracy in Nigeria (NY Times)
Early one Sunday morning in June, a mysterious text message flashed across Kayode Fayemi’s cellphone.
“Since you continue to oppose Governor Fayose, we shall kill you,” the message read, referring to the bare-knuckled incumbent at the time, Ayo Fayose. It was signed, “THE FAYOSE M SQUAD.”
Fela Kuti Documentary (Three Parts)
Fela Anikulapo Kuti, born in Abeokuta, Nigeria in 1938, was a singer-composer, trumpet, sax and keyboard player, bandleader, and politician. Kuti was one of Africa‘s most controversial musicians and throughout his life he continued to fight for the rights of the common man (and woman) despite vilification, harassment, and even imprisonment by the government of Nigeria. Born to Yoruban parents, Kuti was strongly influenced by both parents, his mother being Funmilayo, a leading figure in the nationalist struggle. Practically all of his records are dominated by political events and discussions from the approach of Pan-Africanism.
The American Black Power movement influenced Fela’s political views. He was also a supporter of Pan-Africanism and socialism (although in a 1982 documentary he can clearly be seen rejecting both capitalism and socialism in favor of a third way that he described as Africanism), and called for a united, democratic African republic. He was a fierce supporter of human rights, and many of his songs are direct attacks against dictatorships, specifically the militaristic governments of Nigeria in the 1970s and 1980s
Kuti continued his outspoken attacks on the Nigerian government. When the people returned to power in 1979, Kuti began his own political party – MOP (Movement of the People). The military returned to power in 1983 and within the year Kuti was sentenced to five years in prison on a spurious currency smuggling charge. He was released in 1986 after yet another change of government.
The musical style performed by Fela Kuti is called Afrobeat, which is essentially a fusion of jazz, funk and Traditional African Chant. It is characterized by having African style percussion, vocals, and musical structure, along with jazzy, funky horn sections. The “endless groove” is also used, in which a base rhythm of drums, muted guitar, and bass guitar are repeated throughout the song. His songs were mostly sung in Nigerian pidgin, although he also performed a few songs in the Yoruba language.
Fela Anikulapo Kuti died on Saturday, August 2, 1997 in Lagos, Nigeria. It had been rumored for some time that Fela had a serious illness he was refusing treatment for, many said he was suffering from prostate cancer. But as it turns out, Fela died from complications due to AIDS. As Fela’s brother, Olikoye Ransome Kuti, said at a news conference
Images of Nigerian Culture
This video contains footage of Nigerian life such as a traditional marriage, Lagos street culture, tribal village gatherings, beach life and birthday parties (and some killer Fela Kuti music!).
You Tube Nigeria
Below are a series of interviews conducted by BlackTVOnline.com program host Chief Obidike Ajuluchukwu. The interviews range in length and quality but all are interesting inasmuch as they provide us with contemporary primary source footage.
1. BlackTVOnline.com with Prof. Patrick Okedinachi Utomi . He is a fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants of Nigeria and a senior Faculty of the Lagos Business School (Pan African University), Prof. Patrick Okedinachi Utomi is a Professor of Entrepreneurship and Director of the Centre for Applied Economics at the Lagos Business School. He has served in senior positions in government, as an Adviser to the President of Nigeria (at the age of 27); the Private Sector, as Chief Operating Officer for Volkswagen of Nigeria; and in academia. He is the author of several management and public policy books including the award-winning “Managing Uncertainty: Competition and Strategy in Emerging Economies”. His academic background covers a range from Policy Economics, Business Administration, and Political Science to Mass Communication. As an entrepreneur he has founded or co-founded companies that are active in fields including financial services, ICT, and media.
2. BlackTVOnline.com with Muhammadu Buhari. Buhari was the military ruler of Nigeria (December 31, 1983 – August 27, 1985) and an unsuccessful candidate for president in the April 19, 2003 Presidential Elections. His ethnic background is Fulani and his faith is Islam; his family is from Katsina State.
Buhari was himself overthrown in a coup led by General Ibrahim Babangida on August 27, 1985 and other members of the ruling Supreme Military Council (SMC) ostensibly, because he insisted on investigating allegations of fraudulent award of contracts in the Ministry of Defense. If that investigation had been carried through, it is believed that many senior military officers would have been implicated. Buhari’s insistence on this investigation was to become his fait accompli. A Palace Coup was planned and carried out by Babangida and some senior military officers whose necks were heading for the chopping block following the conclusion of the investigation. Without a doubt, this would have become Buhari and Idiagbon’s most bitter and shocking lesson on how endemic and widespread corruption had become in Nigeria.
In 2003, Buhari contested the Presidential election as the candidate of the All Nigeria People’s Party. He was defeated by the Peoples Democratic Party nominee, President Olus?gun ?basanj?, by a margin of more than eleven million votes.
3. Interview with Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, People’s Democratic Party Candidate for Chairman, Ideato North, LGA.
4. Program Host Chief Obidike Ajuluchukwu continues to introduce you to the candidates for various seats in the upcoming election. Sir Tony O. Nammor, candidate for Senate, House of Assembly (Delta North), Federal Republic of Nigeria.
5. Interview with Dr. Carol Nwosu, chairwoman of PDP-Washington DC chapter on her candidacy The largest Black political party in the world, the Nigerian based People’s Democratic Party, is about to hold their annual United States chapter election for party chairman. Over one hundred delegates representing 24 state chapters will cast their independent vote for one of ten candidates. candidacy.
6. Chief Obidike Ajuluchukwu sits down with PDP-USA candidate Chief, Sir, Dr. Gilbert Okechukwu Abadom, who has a MAJOR announcement to make!
7. Chief Obidike Ajuluchukwu continues to introduce you to the candidates for various seats in the upcoming election. Now meet Engr. Sir Tony O. Nammor, candidate for Senate, House of Assembly (Delta North), Federal Republic of Nigeria