GOVERNANCE CRISIS AND POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA EVIDENCE FROM THE FOURTH REPUBLIC

Abstract

Nigeria has remained in economic and political quagmire in the face of overflowing reservoir of resources, even as its populace is torn in violent crisis and penury. The principles of governance have been upheld in its misconceptions and the management
of public affairs and society has rotationally fallen below expectation. The drawbacks on governmental affairs in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic are perplexing with high manifestation of democratic truncation, poor developmental planning, to leadership
ineptitude. These laid the basis for political violence, ranging from electoral/ethnoreligious violence to economic sabotage activities. Irrespective of the effort of several existing literatures which botheron the area of governance crisis as well as on the
issue of political violence there are still sustaining gaps in this area knowledge. This vacuum is how governance crisis is resultant of political violence. Therefore, the article outlines the parameter of governance crisis in the Fourth Republic and how
they drive political violence in monumental proportions in Nigeria. It reveals that the failure of state to provide services to the poor people explains the developmental challenges of many and the struggle for survival. These resentments have transformed into violent attacks, sacrificing lives and property in the nation at the detriment of peaceful co-existence and security for development. The reform of the Nigerian state through improved governance system infused with such attributes as responsiveness, accountability, efficient social service delivery, and equitable allocation of resources would build-up satisfaction among the populace, by alleviating their appalling conditions, thereby reducing frustration and aggression. The paper adopts the theory of state fragility and the use of secondary sources of data.