The National Question And Democratic Consolidation In Nigeria And India, 2000-2013

ABSTRACT

The major political challenge in Africa and many other developing countries today is how to

deal with the national question and democratic consolidation. There is a general feeling that

the developing nations’ past had been squandered, and the present mortgaged by the elites,

thereby making the future so uncertain. Consequently, the disadvantaged group demands a renegotiation

of relations between the power elites and the people to enable them to be fully

involved in the process of governance. This study therefore undertakes a comparative analysis

of the national question and democratic consolidation in Nigeria and India from 2000 to 2013.

In the study, we raised the following questions: Is India relatively more politically stable than

Nigeria; is heterogeneity and multiculturalism a hindrance to the resolution of the national

question and democratic consolidation in developing countries using Nigeria and India as

reference points; and, is there any relationship between the resolution of the national question

and democratic consolidation in multi-ethnic states? The objectives of the study were to

investigate whether is India relatively more politically stable than Nigeria; to determine

whether heterogeneity and multiculturalism was a hindrance to the resolution of the national

question and democratic consolidation in developing countries, using Nigeria and India as

reference points; and to establish if there was any relationship between the resolution of the

national question and democratic consolidation in multi-ethnic states. The study adopted the

qualitative method of data collection, and the ex-post-facto research design; while the analysis

was qualitative descriptive in nature. The study revealed that that without consideration for

equality and the acknowledgement of the inclusion of every individual and ethnic group in

governance, ethnic conflict cannot be abated. The study also revealed that heterogeneity and

multiculturalism is not a hindrance to the resolution of the national question and enthronement

of democratic consolidation in multi-ethnic country. The study equally revealed that a

relationship exists between the resolution of the national question and democratic

consolidation. We recommended that effort be made to sustain the ‘politics of bargaining’

where issues are viewed beyond primordial enclaves. Further, that programmes and policies

that is sufficient to deal with distributive tensions and regional conflicts be encouraged so as to

de-emphasize ethnic chauvinism in the conduct of public affairs. More deliberate efforts must

be made by the leaders of the country to develop a feeling of oneness among Nigerians.