CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS, MILITARY REGIMES, POLITICAL PARTIES AND TRANSITION TO THE FOURTH REPUBLIC IN NIGERIA (1993-1999)

Abstract

The article explores the role of modern civil society groups in Nigeria between 1993 and 1999. Globally, there is an interface between the civil society groups and democratization. The focus of the research is to examine the political efforts of the modern civil society groups in the transition to democracy in Nigeria. Part of the political effort was the struggle against the military regimes for the actualization of the June 12, 1993 elections. The National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Pro-democracy Group, and Campaign for Democracy (CD) across the country stood up against the military junta led by General Babangida and General Sanni Abacha to return to civil rule. The introduction of the Interim National Government (ING) and the killings of Ken Saro Wiwa and eight human rights activists from Ogoni community in 1993 resulted in the global condemnation of General Abacha government. The eventual collapse of military regime in Nigeria therefore reinforces the efficacy of civil society groups in promoting democracy. This is the focus of the current research paper. Thus, the research found that within this period the civil society groups confronted the military junta through public protests, public enlightenment, consultations and media advocacy. The research also found the efficacy of civil society’s employment of public protests and enlightenment in dismantling Abacha regime. Thus, the overall assessment of the role of civil society and the transition to civil rule in Nigeria underscores the efficacy of civil society in democracies. In conducting the research, the theory of Democratic Peace is employed to discern the reason for civil society’s insistence on democracy in Nigeria. The research employs qualitative content analysis and textual mining as data collection process.