Democracy and Development in Africa: The Nigerian Experience

Abstract

This paper discusses the hyphen and buckle between democracy and development in Africa with specific focus on the
Nigerian State. Its major focus is anchored on the positive transformation of the standard of living of the people. This
transformational change in the lives of the Nigerian people was unfolded through the factorial analysis of the concepts: poverty,
quality of governance cum political participation and national integration. The conception and argument of the researcher is
that democracy as a political mechanism for development has witnessed minimal or no qualitative transformation in the lives of
the people as it pertain poverty reduction, political participation and national integration as a result of poor governance. Thus,
the researcher recommends that if democracy is to positively impact on development especially in the Nigerian State, there is
need for the present democratic system to be restructured in such a way that the system is largely integrative of the people
through their involvement in policy or programme initiation at the party level, communal and national level. Coupled with the
above is the need for vibrant political opposition that would provide functional alternatives to issues that borders on poverty,
performance and national integration.