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Journal VOL. 2 NO. 1, June. 2021, ISSN: 2714 - 4054

 

Political Development and Revolution in Modern States: Interrogating the Necessity of Revolution in Nigeria

Ogunwa Samuel Adetola, Ogunwa Florence Adeseeke

 

ABSTRACT

This work identifies and discusses the phenomena of revolutions. While there is no consensus as to what constitutes a revolution, but revolution makes total alteration in the life of a political system. Several reasons have been deduced for revolutionary movements in countries. The reasons are so germane that when the government fails to carry out the constitutional responsibilities of the state. This essentially and particularly important in democratic societies when the ruling governments did not keep to the promises made to the electorates during electioneering campaigns. The failure of government sometimes influenced the military to stage a coup, and toppled the government even the democratic government elected by the people.  The dictatorial governments have been removed either by the military coup d'état or revolution. Consequently, the contagious effect of the ancient or pre-twentieth revolution affected the twentieth-century revolutions, and these revolutions equally spread to the current century even the “Arab Spring” between 2010 and 2012: Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Bahrain to mention a few.  The change of governments has restored the hopes and aspirations of the people and the future of the countries and the people at large. The work convincingly argues that there is no single environmental factor that makes the revolutionary movement prevails. Series of events are what make revolution possible. Nigeria as a country has not experienced the phenomenon of revolution but has the government changed by the military on several occasions. The military in politics of Nigeria had made incremental adjustments, these 'patchwork' or reforms are not politically and holistically articulated, and perhaps the amendments have some political undertones. Today, both the objective conditions are readily available to triggers revolution even another military rule but only needs subjective conditions to trigger it. This paper argues that revolution is inevitable not even the change of government by the democracy or military will do, but a radical and fundamental adjustment to the political architecture of the country. Nigerians have been shortchanged for good governance. The paper concludes that to avert upcoming political upheavals and consequent of revolution which may alter the Nigerian state convincingly, the political leaders need to redesign governance in the country to meet the aspiration of the people in all ramifications.

 

Keywords: Revolution; Democracy; Good governance; Illegitimacy; Electoral Fraud; Corruption

 

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