Title:
THE POLITICS OF MILITARY WITHDRAWAL IN GOVERNANCE: THE NIGERIAN EXPERIENCE

Authors:
Chijioke Basil Onuoha,Ebong, Itoro Bassey,Osezua Ozinegbe and Uno, Etim Uno ,Nigeria

Abstract:
Literature on politics of military intervention and transition programmes in Nigeria have attracted several attentions by different writers. The traditional role of the military is to ensure territorial protection against internal and external aggression not governance. Most African countries have experienced long military involvement in nation’s politics. This has threatened their democracy due to the dictatorial and autocratic nature of military leadership styles. In Nigeria, immediately after independence in 1960, the country has witnessed series of military coup and counter coup. Several military regimes came up with the transition programmes on how to transit power to the civilian elected government. However, the reverse has been the case as the process was politicized to ensure their continued stay in office. This action triggered several coup which threatened the country’s already weaken democratic system. The objective of this paper is to appraise several military intervention and the politics of military transition programmes in Nigeria. To achieve the objective of this study, the paper adopted historical and descriptive research method and data were drawn with the aid of secondary and primary sources. Army Personal and corporate interest theory was adopted as a theoretical framework. The major findings of the study revealed among others; that the problem of underdevelopment and political instability in Nigeria today results from long term military involvement in the nation’s politics (ii) that the Nigeria Military organization has been bedeviled by the politics of prebendalism and ethnicity which in turned influence their constitutional roles and responsibilities. Available evidence portrays that the politicization of the military transition programmes in Nigeria has paved way for subsequent counter military coup. Based on the above findings, the paper recommended that (i) Civilian political class should disengaged from corrupt practices and extolling the ethos of good governance in order to avoid subsequent military coup as this is always been the case while military struck (ii) all elected and appointed officials in whatever capacity should provide good leadership. This is because the most potent weapon against military intervention in politics is good governance