The challenges of democracy, federalism, national unity and integration in Nigeria: A conceptual approach

Abstract

Democracy in Nigerian context has been unable to promote national unity and integration. This is due to many different interrelated factors such as ethnicity, religiosity, regionalism and corruption and as well the manner in which the Nigerian state evolved as federal entity. This paper sought to examine the practice of democracy in Nigeria’s federal state with the aim of
exploring its impact on Nigerian national unity and integration. In achieving these, Findings from the study reveal that ineffectiveness of leadership and the orientation of Nigerians toward Nigerian state have been the bane of democracy and Nigerian national unity and integration. Although, several institutions and policies have been established to promote national unity and integration, these, have yielded inadequate results. The study recommends among others the proper institutionalisation of the many good policies directed at inculcating the spirit of national unity and integration. Also leaders should embrace the principles and practices of good governance characterized by effectiveness, participatory, accountability, responsiveness, equitable and inclusiveness, as against the politics of divide and rule.