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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Towards a stable political order: revisiting the Fourth Arm theory in a democratic milieu
Author:Alozieuwa, Simeon H.O.ISNI
Year:2007
Periodical:Nigerian Journal of International Affairs (ISSN 0331-3646)
Volume:33
Issue:1
Pages:127-151
Language:English
Geographic term:Nigeria
Subjects:civil-military relations
political stability
political philosophy
democracy
About person:Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe (1904-1996)ISNI
Abstract:After a long spell of military dictatorship, Nigeria embraced civil politics in 1999. The process leading to the enthronement of civil rule in the country was, however, dominated by intense political rivalry between the military and civilian elements of the country's political elites. With the military wing having the upper hand in Nigeria's power game, it was not surprising that the bigger political party, the People's Democratic Party (PDP), threw up Olusegun Obasanjo, a retired army general, as its presidential candidate. Not surprisingly either, the manipulated electoral process enthroned Obasanjo. Some seven years later, however, as Nigeria began a journey to another republic, political tension rose high owing mainly to the struggle for control between civilian politicians and retired military officers turned-politicians. The present paper argues that Nigeria's politicians have to strike a balance that can accommodate both the civilian and military elements of the country's political class. This is the face of the new diarchy in Nigeria as against the earlier variant advocated as a panacea to political instability in the country by the late Nnamdi Azikiwe in his Fourth Arm theory (1972). Notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract]
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