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Democracy and Political Life in Nigeria
/ Nigeria and
the Politics of Unreason: A Study of the Obasanjo Regime
The Osu Caste
Discrimination in Igboland
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Democracy and Political Life in Nigeria
By
Victor E. Dike Why is the political life
of Nigeria colored by unlimited corruption scandals? Why
is the nation choking on its democratization process?
Victor Dike discusses these questions and more in the
second edition of
Democracy and Political
Life in Nigeria.
Thoroughly grounded in
Nigerian history and based on extensive research, this
edition is considerably expanded and updated with
comprehensive analysis of the major sociopolitical and
economic problems confronting Nigeria today. Simple in
style, direct and unpretentious, this book illustrates
how bad leadership and corruption has combined to create
and social instability, a weak economy, high
unemployment, poverty and rising crime rate in the
society.
Armed with lessons from
stable democracies, the author explains practical ways
to reduce social tension and to build necessary
institutional structures for growing the economy and
sustaining a political democracy anchored on true
federalism. Corruption and self-interests often lead to
the myriad irrational and unreasoned domestic policies-
those that are hastily put together and poorly
implemented. The predatory autocratic political leaders
do them and we hear and see them every day! And that has
suffocated the economy and pauperized the people. How
long can the people endure?
The ‘reform-mongers’ seem
to have failed to realize that Nigeria lacks the
necessary institutions and suitable political climate to
make domestic policies work. Nigeria’s politics has
been, and will, if care is not taken, remain dominated
by “soulless leaders” who only prescribe solution to
issues facing the nation without strengthening the
institutions that could tackle them.
Nigeria’s problems have a
long history and any attempt to adopt ad hoc measures to
tackle them will only exacerbate the situation. To move
from the present chaos to peace and democratic
consolidation there must be a paradigm shift. The nation
must adopt a-develop or die mentality by being truly
democratic, transparent, accountable and fiscally
responsible in governance. However, Nigeria needs
permanent institutional structures to tackle its
sociopolitical and economic problems and
Democracy and Political
Life in Nigeria offers a solution.
Democracy and Political
Life in Nigeria, which has 18 Chapters with
end-of-chapter review questions, is expected to be
valuable to policymakers, students and teachers of
Political Science/ Government/ Political
Process/Public Policy/ Social Policy/Law and Politics
and general readers interested in Nigerian (African)
politics.
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Democracy and Political
Life in Nigeria
2nd edition, (New York, Lincoln,
Shanghai: iUniverse, Inc., November 2006)
Paperback-ISBN:
0-595-40266-6; 433 pages;
Price: $26.95
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Contents
Preface to the Second Edition
ix
Chapter 1 Introduction: An
Overview of the Issues in Discourse 1
Chapter 2 The Story of
Nigeria: Regions, States and Geo-Political Zones
14
Chapter 3 Political
Democracy and Ideology 31
Chapter 4 Democracy and
Enabling Conditions 48
Chapter 5 Ethnicity
and Politics of Religion 73
Chapter 6 Democracy
and True Federalism in Nigeria
100
Chapter 7 Politics in
Nigeria and Direct democracy 115
Chapter 8 Corruption
and the Immunity Clause 133
Chapter 9 The Nigerian
Economy: Why Has Nigeria Failed to Develop?
163
Chapter 10 The Nigerian Economy:
Debt Crisis and Poverty in the Land
180
Chapter 11 The Nigerian Economy:
Dual-Exchange Rate and Inflation
221
Chapter 12 Socioeconomic
Restructuring: Privatizing and Reform Programs in
Nigeria 252
Chapter 13 Resource Control and
Challenges of Nation Building
278
Chapter 14 Vocational and
Technical Education in Nigeria: Neglect and Agenda for
Change 301
Chapter 15 Globalization,
Information Technology, and Poor Nations
325
Chapter 16 Managing National
Security and Public Safety in Nigeria
341
Chapter 17 Goodbye Military
Intervention in Nigerian Politics!
373
Chapter 18 Final Conclusion: 2007
Elections and the Future of Democracy in Nigeria
395
Index 407
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To order, please contact
iUniverse Inc:
book.orders@iuniverse.com and
Amazon.com
Toll-free: 1-800-288-4677, Fax: 402-323-7824.
International Call: 00-1-402-323-7800* *
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Victor E. Dike is
an Adjunct Professor, School of Engineering and
Technology, National University (Sacramento Center),
California. He is also a Computer Instructor at the
Fremont School for Adults (Sacramento City Unified
School District) and CEO, Center for Social Justice and
Human Development (CSJHD) - an NGO- in Sacramento,
California that provides educational and training
programs to under served groups. A professional
educator, Victor Dike is the author of
Democracy and Political Life in Nigeria
(2nd ed.), New York,
Lincoln, Shanghai: iUniverse, Nov-2006;
Nigeria and
the Politics of Unreason: A Study of the Obasanjo Regime;
London: Adonis & Abbey, Nov-20, 2003; and The Osu
Caste System in Igboland: A Challenge for Nigerian
Democracy; Kearney, NE: Morris Publishers, 2002.
posted 28 November 2006 * * *
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updated 16 October
2007 |
