Go to AfricaBib home

Go to AfricaBib home AfricaBib Go to database home

bibliographic database
Line
Previous page New search

The free AfricaBib App for Android is available here

Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Grassroots Democracy in Nigeria
Author:Ikpe, Ukana B.ISNI
Year:2002
Periodical:Africa Quarterly
Volume:42
Issue:3
Pages:30-39
Language:English
Geographic term:Nigeria
Subjects:democracy
elections
Politics and Government
Abstract:In Nigeria, the institutionalization of a local government system or grassroots democracy has remained the cornerstone of the democratization programmes of successive regimes. However, the masses remain as irrelevant as ever in the political process. The constituents and dynamics of grassroots democracy need to be understood. Democracy has largely existed at the central elitist or State level with only a superficial penetration into the grassroots. If Nigeria is sincere about grassroots democracy, political and governance processes in primary grassroots structures such as clans, villages, lineages and families must also be democratized. Moreover, grassroots democracy must be more than the election of local government officials. Only when the masses start to attach greater importance to the sanctity of elections and, as a result, legitimize rulers by voting, will grassroots democracy be institutionalized. Ref. [ASC Leiden abstract]
Views