DEMOCRACY AND NATIONAL INTEGRATION IN NIGERIA: A THEORETICAL ANALYSIS OF THE FOURTH REPUBLIC 1999-2019

Abstract

Democracy as practiced in civilized countries seems to be the best form of government, mostly for heterogeneous and pluralistic society like Nigeria. Democracy simply defined as majority rule goes with dividends that will lead to national integration and development, if practiced according to its principles and ethos. Nigeria prior to independence adopted federalism and democracy as a system and form of government. The study gave conceptual explication of democracy and national integration, made use of secondary data and adopted structuralism functionalist theory as its theoretical framework. Democracy and national integration are two concepts that should have usher in unity and development based on human and natural resources the nation is endowed with, reverse is the case as there is high level of poverty and other features of underdevelopment. The paper gave a brief history of Nigeria democracy and its features. Policies, institutions and program adopted by federal government to foster national integration were mentioned and factors militating against democracy and national integration discussed. The study unveiled that democracy devoid of majority rule cannot guarantee national integration and development. The study established the nexus between democracy and national integration, with the finding that people’s government based on equity, transparency and accountability leads to unity and development. That democracy is a veritable tool for national integration and development if practices according to its principles. The study concluded with recommendation on how democracy and national integration can go together which will usher in development in the nation, which includes sensitization and reorientation, strong and workable independent anti-graft agency, transparency and accountability, institutional framework and strong judicial system to mention but few.