The Military and the Challenge of Democratic Consolidation in Nigeria: Positive Scepticism and Negative Optimism

Nigeria, like several other countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, depicts the picture of a ‘Praetorian state’ or what Leo Dare called the ‘Praetorian trap’. The reason for this nomenclature is not farfetched. The polity alternated between civilian and military administrations since its ‘flag independence’ in October 1960. The only respite so far is the uninterrupted civilian administration since 29 May1999, when a nascent democracy was inaugurated. Even at that, the risk of military intervention has not completely disappeared from the political firmament. The thrust of this article, however, is an in-depth analysis of the role(s) of the Military in democratic political transition in Nigeria. This study becomes imperative in the context of the Military superimposed democratic transitions in Nigeria. In a nutshell the article recognises the contributions of the Military vis-à-vis democratic transition and sustenance.