Published 2025-05-14
Abstract
This paper reviews democracy and good governance in Nigeria
from 1999 to 2015. Nigeria is the largest African country with
numerous populations which ranked as 8th most populated in the
world. Since the beginning of democracy in 1999, there has been a
steady but intensive effort to converse the trend of political misery
and disappointment which previously characterized political life
in Nigeria. Long years of political misrule and of course, bad
governance exemplified by personalized political regimes and
ruthless dictatorship left Nigerians politically demoralized and
economically incapacitated with an immersed population ravaged
by poverty, illiteracy and disease, armed robbery, religious and
sectarian conflicts, tribal and ethnic conflicts among others.
Regrettably, Nigeria harbors the highest stock of the continent's
poorest people. The debilitating poverty of the people accentuated
by the economic crisis seems to have provided a basis and indeed a
common platform in the demand for democracy and good
governance. This attempt recognized itself in the call for political
pluralism and good governance. Good governance could succeed
through: effectiveness, equity, accountability, participation,
security and rule of law among others. Democratic development,
nation building and national development would continue to be
mirage in the country if democracy is no link with good
governance.