Power Sharing Arrangements Among Ethnic Nationalities In Federal States: A Comparative Study Of Nigeria And Switzerland

Abstract

The State as a political entity is confronted with several crosscutting challenges that often times transcend formation boundaries the post-Formation emergent contradictions, complexities and paradoxes are usually adequately amplified by political power relationships. This is even more so in multicultural States where the logic of standard majoritarian democratic philosophy, a la ancient Greece, has failed many times.

This thesis is about devising structures and institutions suitable for Nigerian specific political power relationships. Taking a cue from the Swiss experiment of the "Magic Formula", the research uses the qualitative method to compare the circumstances and peculiarities of Nigeria and Switzerland in an attempt to draw lessons for the former. The research adopts a dialectical approach to theoretical analysis by engaging the Group Theory, Elite Theory and Consociation Model in fashioning appropriate power relationships for Nigeria. This theoretical platform focuses on the critical variables and the nature of relationships that must exist between and amongst the variables in the power-sharing arrangement

In the final analysis, a Maximalist power-allocation mechanism, the Collegiate Leadership Paradigm', is proposed for Nigeria. The collegiate paradigm provides the platform for aggregating contending segmental cleavages in the society, thus, assuring adequate proportional representation and inclusion for major conscious and identifiable groups at the highest executive power sharing level. On this basis, recommendations are made for institutionalizing various mechanisms that would enrich the outcome of the collegiate arrangement such that enduring political stability is guaranteed.