THE ROLE OF DEMOCRACY IN ENHANCING RURAL TRANSFORMATION IN KOGI STATE

THE ROLE OF DEMOCRACY IN ENHANCING RURAL TRANSFORMATION IN KOGI STATE

(A CASE STUDY OF IJUMU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA)

ABSTRACT

This research work is poised to look into the ‘’The Role of Democracy in Enhancing Rural Transformation in Kogi State’’ A case study of Ijumu Local Government Area. The research work is divided into five chapters with each chapter linking each other. The objectives of the research work among others include to examine the impact of Ijumu local government area of Kogi State on the well being of their rural populace since inception of democracy in Nigeria and see if their lives have been positively transformed. Two methods of data collection were used i.e. the primary and secondary sources of data and the data was analyzed using simple percentage method for easy understanding. The findings reveals that democracy is a necessity for rural transformation. At the end of the research work, it was recommended that; election into local government council should be based on electoral principles and the elected council members should be committed to the aims and objectives of the local government.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Democracy is a method of institutional arrangement for arriving at a political decision in which individual requires the power to decide by means of competitive struggle for the people’s vote.

In other words, democracy may be seen as a system of government in which all qualified adults citizens share the supreme power directly or through their elected representatives.

Ben Nwabueze (1993), democracy is about the use of the constitution as a supreme and fundamental law to regulate and limit the power of government, legislative, executive and judiciary and has to secure the efficiency of such limitations in actual practice by ensuring that government is not assumed except with mandate of the people freely given at periodic internal of time.

The World Bank encyclopedia D. Volume 5 (1982) page 104, describes democracy as a form of government, a way of life and a good ideal, the term also refers to a country that has a democratic form of government.

Femi Falana (1990), sees democracy as something associated with the nations distributive justice and is considered to exist when the substance of public policy provide for an equitable access to opportunities as wel as distribution of records to all members of society irrespective of how these public decisions are reached.

Abraham Lincoln, one time American President sees, democracy as ‘’the government of the people, by the people and for the people’’. It is a government by consent of the governed. That is, government with the approval of the people been governed. The above definition also presupposes that it is the government of the people when it is a government that is initiated by the people. This presupposes that it is a government by the people when a such a government is represented by a group of people and that it is the government for the people when that government cares for the yearnings and aspiration of the masses.

Democracy demands that there should be fundamental human rights and basic freedom of association, expression, movement of ownership, right to life, right to peaceful protest, right to dignity of human person, right to personal liberty, right to fair hearing and right to acquire property.

Democratic way of life recognized the quality and dignity of all persons regardless of race, religion, sex or social standing. It holds that every one is equal in court trial and other legal matters. A goal of a democratic society is to ensure its people have an opportunity to make full use of their abilities. It provides all these through democratic setting.

A common characteristics of past colonial democracy in Nigeria is its instability. Several attempts to consolidate democracy have been interrupted by the military who have continued to work in the background waiting for the slightest excuse to take over power while one would concede that given the nature of crisis in a multi-ethnic society like most African countries, military intervention and the only viable alternative Nigeria shares a lot in common with India, Kenya, Ghana and others. Femi Falana, (1990)

Inspite of these apparent difficulties associated with democracy, constitutionalism has not been treated in those countries, all their political change since independence have taken place in accordance with the constitution and various types have been orderly and democratic.

The ruled and the ruler must equally bear in mind that nurturing and sustaining democracy requires more than formulating party legislation.

Consequently, for democracy to ensure and be wroth the effort and sacrifice, it must incorporate such universal pillars of democratic system as independent o judiciary, a professional and efficient law enforcement agencies and electorate that is, both literate and cognizance of civil right responsibilities.

1.2   STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMS

Democracy can hardly survive unless the ground has been watered and enriched by hard work, patriotism, willingness of the citizens to discharge their various and numerous civil responsibilities and obligations. The central to the problem of democracy transformation in rural areas in Nigeria is the persistent and enduring political instability in the country. This could be seen in the past fifty three (53) years of Nigeria independence. The country has experienced two constitutional changes and a number of reviewed constitutions yet, demanding for another constitutional review from every section of the country.

Equally, the problem of democracy transformation in the local government is attributed to the operational factors arising from the behaviour and attitude of the persons who operate the system.

These operational problems hinder equitable distribution of amenities in the whole areas. This has ended to weaken the local government system as a whole. Unfortunately, the rural development transformation committee at the local government level which are suppose to liaise between the highest level (state and national) and the lower level (primary and higher production and the lowers level (primary and higher production centres) lack of necessary coordinating authority.

Therefore, this study examines the roles of democracy in enhancing rural transformation in Kogi State. Does the role of democracy actually enhance rural transformation in Kogi State? How and to what extent? This is what I as the researcher intently wish to dig into the research.

1.3   OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The broad objectives of this study will be to examine how democracy serves as an instrument of enhancing rural transformation in Kogi State and how this has affected the lives of rural people of Kogi State. However, other objectives are as follows:

1. To identify the roles of the executive in the transformation of the rural areas.
2. To examine the impact of Ijumu local government area of Kogi State on the well being of their rural populace since inception of democracy in Nigeria and see if their lives have been positively transformed.
3. To examine whether in a democratic setting, people have been given equal chance to participate in decision making and administration of their states.
4. To find out the relationship between government and rural dwellers in Kogi State and how the government has putting in its best in ensuring that the rural dwellers are provided with the needed dividends of democracy.
5. To identify the problems facing the rural dwellers and proffer suggestions, recommendations and solution to them.

1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The significance of this study is to find out whether democracy serves as an instrument for rural transformation in Kogi State. It will also be very useful in encouraging active participation of the rural populace in the government of their local area. It allow conflict in the societies to be resolved by rational argument and persuasion rather than by violence.

That democracy most importantly demands that there should be fundamental human right and basic freedoms for the people which among other include freedom of association, expression, movement, worship, right to life, right to peaceful protest etc.

This research is also significant because having gone through previous work/research conducted by students, I discovered that all their concentration was mainly on party policy, party system, political parties among others. With little or no attention being given to the subject matter ‘’Democracy’’ as a role in enhancing rural transformation in Kogi State.

Similarly, student with limited knowledge of this subject will find it helpful to further research into the democratic machinery in Nigeria.

Beside the above, to the politicians, democracy enables them to contribute enormously to the development of their community. This is because politicians many have good policies and programmes to display for the development of their communities.

The study is also significant in the sense that, it is done in fulfillment of the partial requirement for the award of Higher National Diploma (HND) in Public Administration.

1.5   RESEARCH QUESTIONS

Having understood the background and statement of problem of this project as well as challenges associated with the study, I therefore ask the following questions;

1. Does the rural communities patronized or pressurized the government at the local level to provide them with infrastructural amenities?
2. Does the present democratic government provide social amenities for the enhancement of rural transformation in Kogi State?
3. How is local government managing funds meant for rural transformation?
4. Are the traditional heads/ruler cooperating in the rural transformation of their areas?

1.6   SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY SCOPE

This research work is presumed to cover generally the role of democracy in enhancing rural transformation with particular reference to Ijumu local government are of Kogi State. It is also designed to cover some basic data and information needed to see how democracy has played a vital role in ensuring that the lives of the rural people are transformed.

The in the course of this research work, survey method is used for the collection of data, this involved both primary and secondary data. The primary data is collected from staff of Ijumu local government area council while the secondary data is through journals, textbooks, and past project work similar to my topic.

LIMITATIONS

Limitations/constraints are inevitable in carrying out a research work of this nature. However, in the course of this research, the following constraints were encountered thus:

1. Non-availability of enough resources (finance): A work of this nature is very tasking financially, money had to be spent at various stages of the research such resources which may aid proper carrying out of the study were not adequately available.
2. Secret attitude of respondents: Since this research topic dwell on democracy in enhancing rural transformation, some of the respondents find it difficult to offer useful information as to whether democracy has impacted positively or not to their well being because they felt that revealing such secret may relief them of their job.
3. Time factor: The time used in carrying out the research work is relatively not enough to bring the best information out of it. However, I hope that the little that is contained in this study will go a long way in solving many greater problems.

1.7   DEFINITION OF TERMS

In the course of carrying out this research, the following key terms were defined:

DEMOCRACY: According to Abraham Lincoln’’, democracy is seen as the government of the people by the people and for the people. It refers to a system of government in which all qualified adult citizens share the supreme power directly or through elected representatives.

RURAL DEVELOPMENT: According to ‘’Jack Okafor’’, rural development should embrace all aspect of development; socio-political, socio-economic which must be used to develop aspect of man.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT: According to the 1976, local government reform, local government can seen as the government at the local government at the local level exercised through legislative council established by law to exercise power within defined areas has substantial control over local affairs as well as the staff ad institutional power to initiate and direct the provisions of services and to ensure that local initiations and responses to local needs are maximized.

POLITICAL PARTIES: According to ‘’Ranney and Kendall, political parties are seen as autonomously organized groups that makes nominations and contest elections in the hope of eventually gaining and exercising control on the personnel and policies of government.

1.8   ORGANIZATION OF WORK

This research work is segmented into five (5) chapters with each chapter dealing extensively with a aspect of research item. Therefore, the following are going to be the body and format of the chapters.

Chapter one examines the introduction, background to the study, statement of the problem, research question, objectives of the study, significance of the study, scope and limitations of the study and definition of terms.

Chapter two centres on the literature review of the study, this will further examine all the existing knowledge of the study in question, the concept/roles of democracy in enhancing rural transformation will be reflected.

Chapter three dwells on the study area of research methodology which involves population of the study, sample techniques, instruments for data collection as well as method of data analysis.

Chapter four focus mainly on data presentation and analysis which includes discussion of findings.

Finally, chapter five, focuses on summary, of the chapters i.e. from chapter one to four which also include recommendations and conclusion.

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