Democratic Process And Conflicts In Nigeria: Issues And Solutions
Cletus Obasi and C. Ibenwa
Abstract
The Nigeria State began its life as a free and independent nation with the adoption of the British form of
Parliamentary system of democracy. This system of democracy was fraught with conflicts which engulfed the
nations for years. The tension and the conflicts led to the first military intervention in the country in 1966 and
the civil war in 1967, which jettisoned the democratic process. The American form of Presidential democracy
was adopted, and has been in practice for nearly three decades now. However, conflicts are still trailing the
system, hindering progress and stalling national development; hence one asks: Is democracy as practiced today
in Nigeria the source of conflicts? This is the basic question that interests this paper.