Nigeria’s political landscape has experienced a decline in leadership quality, despite 25 years of democratic advancements and a transition from military to civilian rule.
This concern was at the heart of discussions at an international conference on Nigeria’s Panoramic Political History from 1914 to 2024, held in Kaduna.
Nigeria’s transformation over the past 110 years since its amalgamation has brought about significant shifts—both positive and negative—in the nation’s journey from 1914 to 2024.
While the country has made notable progress in its democratic development, particularly in the past 25 years, key challenges have undermined these gains. Many elections in recent years have been contested in court, raising concerns over the integrity of the democratic process.
Delivering the keynote address titled “The Making and Building of Nigeria: People, Places, Times, and Legacies”, Professor Alkasum Abba outlined six distinct phases in Nigeria’s history.
These included the era of colonial consolidation, radical nationalism, power struggles among political elites, the crises and conflicts, the restoration of democracy, and the present democratic challenges.
Each phase, he said, has left a lasting imprint on the country’s political and economic landscape.
Professor Abba warned that Nigeria’s current economic difficulties have been worsened by poor government policies, cautioning that if these are not addressed, the country may be heading towards a deeper crisis.
The conference emphasised that despite significant milestones in Nigeria’s complex political journey, the nation’s future stability hinges on effective tackling of the economic challenges that are currently undermining its progress.
(Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe)
