GOOD GOVERNANCE: THE IMPERATIVE OF PEACE AND SECURITY IN NIGERIA’S FOURTH REPUBLIC

¹M.M. Adagbabiri and ²U.C. Okolie

¹Department of Political Science, Delta State University Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria

²Chartered Institute of Personal Management of Nigeria, Edo State Study Centre, Benin-City, Edo State, Nigeria

Email: ugookolie@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Nigeria like most other democratic countries entrenched the principles of good governance as criteria for democratic governance in her 1999 constitution. However, despite this constitutional provision, as well as the enormous resources and huge potentialities, good governance continues to be elusive to Nigeria. This is exacerbated by the seeming failure of governance to address key issues affecting economic development such as poverty alleviation, access to education, employment, resource distribution, infrastructure development and political power contests. This has indeed robbed the country of desired peace and security, which are necessary ingredients for sustainable development. This paper argues that the problem of development in Nigeria in a problem of governances; when defined in term of the proper, fair and equitable allocation of resources for the achievement of the end or purpose of the state, which is the promotion of the common good. The central argument of the study is to weave a thread linking the Nigeria state’s ability to ensure human security and a convivial atmosphere, the focus of which is the protection of the people and the response to their needs especially as these concern threats to life and property. This is cast within the context of global peace and security where consideration is not just for protection, but also empowerment of people and societies as a means of engendering development. Unless these categorical steps are taken, the country may experience another democratic breakdown that will spell doom for the nation – state.