DEMOCRACY AND ISLAMIC SECT/BOKO HARAM IN NIGERIA

(A CASE STUDY OF GOODLUCK JONATHAN REGIME)

By

Author

Presented To

Department of Political Science

ABSTRACT

Democracy is always seen as an indispensable feature of any nation. The idea that the practice of true democracy is very pivotal for the survival and progress of every nation of that would Nigerian is not an exception. Thus, Nwabueze (1991:20) succinctly describes democracy as "A form of government which recognizes and institutionalizes the people as fountain of power and enables them by the means election at frequent intervals on universal adult franchise to choose and mandate those to govern a form of government in which the public good or welfare of the people is the object". Lamentably, however, democracy in an underdeveloped nations like Nigeria is an irony comparing it to the above definition of democracy. True democracy should be people oriented without being coarsed in any way. In Nigeria, ethnicism and religion has distorted democracy, disorganized the whole political system and has finally made Nigerian nation a laughing stock in the community of nations. This is because people are busy fighting ethnic/religious crises and don't even know the meaning of democracy let alone the practicing of true democracy. Moreso, the research work is purely centered an democracy and Islamic sect (bokoharam) with special reference to President Goodluck Jonathan regime. To efficiently carry out the research, the researcher used both primary and secondary sources of data collection. The primary source were oral interview on the masses about the regime of president Goodluck Jonathan, the questionnaire was also formulated to solicit information from the respondents which also acted as primary source of information, whereas the library materials, magazines, newspaper and internets materials acted as secondary sources of information. The researcher also formulated research questions that acted as guide to the study. The data generated from the questionnaire responses was presented and also analyzed using the questionnaire responses. However, the findings of the study reveals that Nigeria is not practicing true democracy i.e. they don't even understand the meaning of democracy, let alone the practice of it. The members of the political class are very very corrupt. The citizens are not given the chance to exercise their fundamental human rights. There is high rate of insecurity of lives and properties in Nigeria especially in the regime of President Goodluck Jonathan regime. And report shows that the political class especially Buhari that wanted to be the president of the so called democratic nation but lost it to Goodluck vowed that he will make Nigeria ungovernable for Goodluck Jonathan. It was believed that Buhari, IBB, Atiku and other northern Bourgeois of this nation are the brain behind bokoharam attack to the regime of President Goodluck Jonathan that is why the bokoharam say that if they will come for negotiation, that Buhari most be there. As a result of the above findings, it was recommended that government should engage the group in a dialogue, and inaugurate programmes that would address issues, equally government should deal decisively with anybody sponsoring bokoharam activities in Nigeria.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page i

Approval ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgements iv

Abstract vi

Table of contents viii

CHAPTER ONE

10 Introduction 1

11 Background of the study 2

12 Statement of the problem 3

13 Purpose of the study 8

14 Significance of the study 9

15 Research questions 10

16 Scope of the study 11

17 Limitation of the study 11

18 Definition of the terms 11

CHAPTER TWO

21 Literature Review 13

22 Problems of democracy government in Nigeria 19

23 Boko haram history in Nigeria 21

24 Boko haram attack in Nigeria 23

25 Views of other people on Boko haram 26

26 Comparing Nigeria democracy and boko haram 32

27 Consequences of boko haram to national development 34

28 Summary of literature review 37

29 Gap in literature 38

CHAPTER THREE

30 Research Methodology 39

31 Brief outline of the study 39

32 Design of the study 40

33 Area of the study 40

34 Population of the study 40

35 Sample of the study 41

36 Instrument for data collection 41

37 Validation of the instrument 42

38 Distribution and Retrieval of instrument 42

37 Method of data analysis 43

CHAPTER FOUR

40 Data Presentation and Analysis 44

41 Findings of the study 65

CHAPTER FIVE

50 Summary Conclusion and Recommendation 69

51 Summary of findings 69

52 Conclusion 70

52 Recommendations 71

References 74

Appendix 76

Questionnaire 77

CHAPTER ONE

10 INTRODUCTION

Democracy and Islamic sect/Boko Haram in Nigeria This study on democracy and Islamic sect in Nigeria is geared towards bringing to light the menace of Islamic sect/Boko haram on Nigeria democracy

However, following the president Goodluck Jonathan regime, Nigeria have witnessed several dis-harmony on its socio-polity as a result of the problems posed by Boko haram which is an Islamic militant group based in the north which forbid western education and seeks the imposition of Sharia law in the country

Therefore, Boko haram has done more harms than good to democracy in Nigeria because of its negative attributes which makes Nigeria an undemocratic nation

11 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

This research work is centered on democracy and religious sect/ Boko haram in Nigeria with a particular reference to Goodluck Jonathan Regime

Democracy is a global maiden which every nation woos It is a system of government based on popular consent Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa has no choice then to align itself with the rest of the world on the democratic crave

However, Nigeria has not been so lucky to be democratized It has had long tortured history of dancing around democracy but has make gotten it right This is largely due to some challenges it has suffered since its inspection which includes lack of large scale free and fair election, refusal to accept defeat in electrons by political gladiators, corruption, inobservance of rule of law, lack of freedom of speech and publication and that of freedom of worship which have been a threat to national peace and development by some religious sect

Boko Haram is a controversial Nigerian militant Islamist group that seeks the imposition of Sharia law on the northern states of Nigeria Equally, it is an Islamic group that forbids western education It is a religious militant group base in the north and seek to establish Sharia law in the country, this have badly effected the socio-economic development in the country and have effected the democracy in the country

1 2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The idea that the Islamic religion with its militant group Boko haram has been a threat to Nigerians and the world at large is very very true Since Buhari lost as the presidential aspirant to Goodluck Jonathan, himself (Buhari) Atiku and other top politicians in the northern part of the country felt that their assured right which is leadership of this country/Aso rock has been taken or snatched from them unannounced They (northern politicians) like a child that has been weaned by the mother is trying to use any gimmick to get Aso Rock back in their laps That is why they vowed to give Goodluck Jonathan headache by making the masses (electorates) that voted him in hate him as they (the northern politicians) are using different tactics to fight Goodluck and the poor Nigerians masses that exercise their franchise

Boko Haram has seriously undermined democracy in this country Simply put, Boko haram has shown that Nigeria is very far from democracy that they have been clamouring for some years How can we (Nigeria) claim to be a democratic nation when there are insecurity of lives and properties of the populace How can Nigerian claim to be democratic nation when the so called old politicians/political aspirants decided to commit such deadly plan of sponsoring killers in the name of Islamic sect Boko haram to kill the very people he has planned to rule/head

Recently, there is plan to have political talk with Boko haram sect One wonders if the only way to get the attention of the leadership is through killing people, wasting and destroying our mearged resources

Boko haram and insecurity it posed to this nation has publicly proved that Nigerian can never be one as they claim to be and that Nigeria is very far from practicing true democracy

The truth is that Boko haram are not spirits, they are not the poor class or illiterates, rather they are the unhappy politicians from the north who is sponsoring killers to kill the masses for voting candidates of their choice

Boko haram is corruption personified, it is only corruption that would make human being that is supposed to be a leader by example to turn and waste the destines of people for no reason

Boko haram with its twin brother ethnicity has posed a serious question to our democracy Boko haram (Islamic religion) is posing a challenge to democracy in Nigeria and more especially to the integrity of the northern politicians Boko haram has demotivated Nigerian masses The masses has lost hope in the leadership since blood is being shed every day and our law makers are not saying anything about it instead the leadership especially northern politicians are busy sponsoring that the killers should be praised by Boko haram having talk with the government on how they (the killer Boko haram) should be rewarded

Boko haram has also proved that the judiciary is no longer the last hope of common man Boko haram has shown that Nigeria doesn't have law makers, judiciary, and executive If the security agents in Nigeria understand that they are being paid for their job, why haven't they discovered any leaders, sponsors, and supporter of Boko haram sect and deal with them as killing illiterate alimagiris would do nothing to curb the problem

The conclusion is that the leadership of this nation is very corrupt and the masses is only trusting of God for the protection of their lives and properties and the judgement of the blood of the poor masses the leadership of this nation has shade because of corruption or greediness

13 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

This project work intents to achieve the following purposes: -

1 To examine critically democracy and problems of democracy

2 To examine Boko haram and its consequences to democracy in Nigeria

3 Asses Boko haram major attacks on Nigeria

4 Consequences of Boko haram activities to National development

5 To make a recommendation that will help to sustain democratic rule in Nigeria

14 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This research work would be of great benefit to the leadership to the country It will serve as an appraisal to the leadership of this country

Moreso, this work would be of great benefit to the northern politicians that are seriously preparing to come out in 2015 election because they will be able to know peoples view of their illicit behaviour As the northern political aspirants are killing people to rule wood

They will also learn that it is only wood and goats that they spared will vote them God in heaven and any human being in Nigeria has learnt that after shading blood to rule, they will continue to kill when they are in office

However, the research work will try to revive Nigeria as they will learn that they are still very far from practicing democracy

The work will also serve as a reference point to future researchers

15 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

i Is Boko haram a threat to the whole country?

ii To what extent has Boko haram a threat to the regime of Goodluck Jonathan?

iii Did Atiku, Buhari and their acolytes vow to disturb the regime of Goodluck Jonathan?

iv To what extent has Boko haram undermined Nigeria democracy?

v Is corruption a bane to Nigeria democracy?

16 SCOPE/DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY

This work covers democracy and religious sect in Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan regime

17 LIMITATION OF STUDY

This work is affected as a result of limited time and finance at the researcher's disposal

18 DEFINITION OF TERMS

It is essential at this stage of our study to define or clarify some terminologies used in this work A clear idea of those basic concepts term will certainly provide an easy understanding the entire work

DEMOCRACY

It is a combination of two Greek words which are "demo" and "krato" meaning government by the people "consent" Therefore, democracy, from a layman's point of view is government of the people by the people and for the people

Democracy may be defined as a system of government in which all qualified adult citizens share the supreme power directly or through their elected representatives Democracy is a system of government based on popular consent

Also, the term democracy has in another occasion been described as "government by consent of the governed" ie government with the approval of the people being governed

BOKO HARAM

Boko Haram is a controversial Islamist militant group that seeks the imposition of Sharia law in the northern states of Nigeria and rest of the country It is a jihadist group that strongly opposes man-made laws and modern science