Nigeria in the Twenty-First Century: Strategies for Political Stability and Peaceful Coexistence (review)

Given Nigeria's long history of military rule, effective strategies for political stability and peaceful coexistence are imperative. In Nigeria in the Twenty-First Century, respected scholars offer strategies for dealing with the virulent nature of competitive politics in Nigeria. The book's eleven chapters cover such diverse issues as military politics, ethnic and religious tensions, management of the economy, and democratization. The unifying theme is that Nigeria's prospects for political stability would be bright if the harmful effects of military rule and ethnic and regional tensions could be effectively controlled. Emmanuel Udogu's introductory chapter provides the necessary background to these issues.

Chapter 2 is arguably the most interesting. Here Pita Agbese and Udogu explore how the current civilian administration under President Olusegun Obasanjo can best "tame the military shrew" (19) to operate successfully in the country's fledging democracy. Agbese and Udogu reiterate that military rulers not only refused to hand over power, but also instituted nontransparent structures to perpetuate their rent-seeking aspirations. Several chapters deal with issues of marginalization and discrimination. Philip Aka's contribution confronts the contentious issue of ethnicity. He blames the colonial policy of "divide and rule" for the ethic animosities and unending conflicts over resources in Nigeria. Aka therefore advocates "a well-tailored policy of reconciliation" (41) and a development agenda that would address the grievances of all marginalized communities. Whether the country's monocommodity dependence can help attain such goals is unclear. This, indeed, is what Nwafejoku Uwadibie addresses in chapter 4. Uwadibie's position is that unless there is a balance between the oil and non-oil sectors, no meaningful economic development can take place. The call for intersectoral balance seems reasonable, but one wonders whether the country's oil resources and revenues will be utilized more properly than in the past.

In chapter 5, Mojubaolu Okome blames the nation-state for the underrepresentation of women in official circles; she wants policymakers to realize that implementing proactive policies to curb discrimination and violence against women is a guarantee of stability and peaceful coexistence. Similarly, religious tensions have created serious challenges for Nigeria as a secular federation, an issue Olufemi Vaughan pursues in chapter 6. Vaughan draws on historical accounts not only to analyze tensions between Muslims and Christians, but also to show how religious forces continue to complicate Nigeria's transformation.

The remaining chapters focus largely on strategies for sustaining the country's fledging democracy. Peyi Soyinka-Airewele calls on the academic community to facilitate the country's economic and political agenda through partnerships with local communities, while Udogu contends that the challenges posed by democratic development can best be understood by tracing the country's political history, a task he undertakes. Bennett Odunsi deplores the use of the police force to serve the interest of the ruling elites and advocates reforms to make the police service more responsible in promoting peaceful coexistence. Toyin Falola notes with concern that both crisis (push) and underdevelopment (pull) contribute to brain drain. Falola concludes that sustainable economic development is the surest way to discourage migration. Udogu's final chapter responds to allegations of electoral malpractices in the 2003 elections by pointing out that Nigerians accepted the results simply because they wanted to give democracy a chance to thrive.

In effect, Nigeria in the Twenty-First Century offers an insightinto the quest for political stability and peaceful coexistence in Nigeria. The issues raised reflect contemporary challenges faced by most underdeveloped nations, making these discussions relevant for the developing world in general.