Journal of Social and Political
Sciences
ISSN 2615-3718 (Online)
ISSN 2621-5675 (Print)
Published: 10 March 2022
Traditional Administration and its Impact on Democratic Governance in Africa “The Nigerian Experience”
Hassan Said Umar
University of Abuja
Download Full-Text Pdf
10.31014/aior.1991.05.01.338
Pages: 90-105
Keywords: Traditional Institution, Democracy, Governance, Accountability
Abstract
Democratic governance is undoubtedly adjudged to be the most acceptable instrument through which people can be better served and administered for sustainable development. Even though traditional institution has been the indigenous governance instrument long before the advent of modern democracy, it is a framework that survived and believed to have tremendous impacts on the modern democratic process and governance in Nigeria. This paper therefore examines the relationship inherent between the traditional institutions and the modern democratic process of governance in Africa with particular reference to Nigeria. The research is a survey type which relies on available literature on governance, close observations and discussion with intellectuals and experts on governance generally. The paper finds a close relationship between the traditional administration and the democratic governance processes in Nigeria. This relationship by way of impacts on democratisation process is seen in the following ways; despotic disposition to leadership, personalisation of the instruments of governance, apparent disregard for constitutional limitations of tenure, masculinisation of leadership, class domination and promotion of political hegemony. The paper concludes that there is a dominance of such traditional administration values among Nigerian politicians and leaders. The paper recommends a systemic restructuring, systematic but aggressive mass reorientation and sensitisation about the true democratic culture and value as against the old order, promotion of equal opportunities for all, mass literacy campaign against despotism and personalisation of instruments of governance, promotion of transparency and accountability amongst others, for good governance and sustainable development.
References
Adewumi, J.B. & Egwurube, J. (1985) The Roles of Traditional Rulers in Local Government: Historical Perspective in Aborisade O. (Ed.) Local Government and Traditional Rulers in Nigeria. Ile-Ife: Unife Press.
Amadi, E.O. (2007) Traditional Rulers Bare their Minds on Increasing Strained Relations with Elected Local Government Functionaries, This Day Newspapers, October 10.
Anthony, Otieno Ong’ayo (2008), The Post-Election Violence in Kenya; An overview of the underlying factors. Retrieved from www.pambazuka.org/governance/post-election-violence-kenyaanoverview-underlying
Atte, O.D. (1986), Towards Agricultural development, the role of traditional rulers and Local Government in land management policy in Nigeria. Daily Sketch, Ibadan: Nigeria, October 15 1998
Bamitale Omole (2016), Traditional Institutions, Democracy and Development: Role of Oba and its citizens. Retrieved from www.thisdaylivw.com/index.php/2016/06/12/traditiobal on June 12, 2016
Babawale, T.A. Alao and A. Adesoji (Eds.), The Chieftaincy Institution in Nigeria, Lagos: Concept Publishers for Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation.
Beethan David (1992), Liberal Democracy and the Limits of Democratisation .Retrieved from http/ online library.wiley.com on 12th march 2018
Bendel State of Nigeria (1979) Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Edict. Benin City: Government Printers..
Crowder, M. And O. Ikime (1970), West Africa Chiefs: the Changing Political Order Among Bura People of Borno State, Nigeria. Jos; African Centre for Democratic Governance
Dorward, david craig (1969), “The Development of the British Colonial Administration Among the Tiv, 1900-1949” Africa Affairs, 68 No. 273
Kanu, Ikechukwu Anthony (2015), African Traditional Democracy; An African Journal of Art and Humanities, Vol. 1 NO 1 pg23-35
keller, Edmund J (1991),The State In Contemporary Africa: A Critical Assessment Of Theory And Practice, in Dankwart A Rustow and Kenneth Paul Erikson.(eds),comparative political dynamics: global Research Perspectives. New York: harper Collins Publishers
Mazrui, Ali A. and Tidy Michael (1984), Nationalism and New States in Africa.
London: Heinemann Educational Books.
Okafor Samuel (1972), Ibo Chiefs and Social Change “The Journal of Modern African Studies. Vol.10 No.1 pp 128-139
Osaghae, Eghosa E. ( 1988), The passage from the past to the present in African political thought: the question of relevance, “in zaccheus Sunday Ali, John A. A Ayodele and Adigun A.B. Agbaje(eds) African Traditional Political Thought and Institutions. Lagos: Centre for Black and Africa arts and Civilisation,1,4, pp53-75
Osaghae Eghosa, E. (1986). The passage from the past to the present in African political thought: the question of relevance. Paper presented at the International Conference on African Traditional Thought and Institution held at the University of Ibadan, August.
Salami , Y K (2004), Yoruba Proverbs and Democratic Ethos. Proverbium yearbook of intersociety proverb scholarship
Salami Y K(2016), The Democratic Structure of The Yoruba Political-Cultural Heritage. The Journal of Pan Africa Studies. Vol. 1 No. 6 pp 67-78
Shaw, T.(1969), Igbo-uku, Eastern Nigerian.,in T.shaw (Ed) Nigerian Prehistory and Archaeology, Ibadan: Ibadan University press
Riggs W.F (1964), Administration in Developing Countries; Theory of Prismatic Society. Houghton Mifflin, University of California
Uche Nworah (ND), The Role of Traditional Rulers In An Emerging Democratic Nigeria. Retrieved from www.nathanielturner.com/roleoftraditionalrulersinnigeria.htm