THE IMPLICATIONS OF CIVIL SOCIETY MOVEMENT AND DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION IN NIGERIA
Authors:
POPOOLA Michael
Publication Type: Journal article
Journal: 200
ISSN Number:
0
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Abstract
The .collapse of the Communist Russia in 1989 made, democracy, as a system of government, gain wider currency across the globe. Consequently, authoritarian regimes all over the world (including Nigeria then) came under severe pressure to embrace democracy. In Nigeria, the transition to civil rule programs initiated by the military regimes of Generals Ibrahirn Babangida and Sanni Abacha were closely monitored by civil society. Between 1990 and 1999, the Nigerian civil society became a renewed and vibrant movement which entered the country's political scene with unimaginable force and bravery to demand for an end to military authoritarianism and the enthronement of democracy. Their efforts towards making democratic transition a reality in Nigeria paid off as the country was returned to democratic government in May 1999/However, some scholars opine that Nigerian civil society in post transition period is devoid of the kind of vibrancy and well coordinated efforts with which it fought for democracy. Therefore, this paper reviews the tortuous, brave and determined struggle of the Nigerian civil society to enthrone democracy, and also makes a wake-up call on the nation's civil society to renew its vibrancy in order to defend, strengthen deepen and save the nascent democracy which it labored so much for.