A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF TRANSITION TO CIVIL RULE IN NIGERIA & GHANA 1960 - 2000
A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF TRANSITION TO CIVIL RULE IN NIGERIA & GHANA 1960 - 2000
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Date
2001-12
Authors
ESEW, NTIM GYAKARI
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Abstract
The intrusion of the military in African politics and their disengagement thereof, has made transition to civil rule integral part of politics on the continent. In Nigeria as well as in Ghana, transition to civil rule was precipitated by the intervention of the military in the democratic process. Irrespective of the duration of the military in power, the military and the civil society have seen the need to put a programme for transferring power to civilians in place. This study, therefore, is an examination of the nature and pattern of the political transition to civil rule in Nigeria and Ghana. Why has it been difficult for the military in Nigeria and Ghana to initiate and execute any political transition successfully? Does the ambition of an incumbent have any impact on political transition? Our quest to find answers to the foregoing questions provides the stimulus for this study. It is our proposition that (i) given the powerful nature of the state in the allocation of resources, there will be a struggle for power between the military and the political elites for the control of the state policy-making apparatus, (ii) that most political transitions in Nigeria and Ghana are characterized by the desire of the incumbent to remain in power and (iii) the greater the degree of influence of the military in the transition process, the lesser its chances of success. Secondary sources on the various transition programmes in
ix Nigeria and Ghana from 1960 to 2000, were collected, collated and then meticulously subjected to systematic content analysis to test the propositions. The study discovered that there is a relationship between military interest and the outcome of political transitions in both Nigeria and Ghana. That since the state is the major repository of wealth and controls the nation's resources, there will be a continuous struggle between the military and civil society over power. That success of transition to civil rule depends on whom the incumbent wanted to relinquish political power. That the military in their attempt to hand over power to civilians set up similar electoral bodies to oversee the transition programme. Among the problems associated with the military and political transitions include the insincerity on the part of the military in keeping to transition timetable. In cases where they are kept, the overwhelming influence of the military on the transition, makes the whole process a mockery. The entire transition programme is manipulated overtly or covertly to the advantage of the incumbent; an uneven playing field is, therefore, provided among contestants where the incumbent is an interested party. The thesis concludes with recommendations which could lead to a smooth and successful transition of power from military to civil rule thus: (i) The military should be sincere in their willingness to hand-over power to civilians, (ii) the antieo£e to military incursion into politics is good governance. Civilian leaders should therefore, try as much as possible to eschew ethnic
X sentiments and tendencies and spread political appointments evenly across the nation.
Description
BEING A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL AHMLADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (PH.D) IN POLITICAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA. DECEMBER, 2001.
Keywords
CRITICAL,, ANALYSIS,, TRANSITION,, CIVIL,, RULE,, NIGERIA, GHANA,, 1960 - 2000.