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Elites Struggles and National Development: Discussions on Nigeria's 1999 Constitution Paperback – Large Print, February 6, 2026

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Management number 220810202 Release Date 2026/05/03 List Price $12.00 Model Number 220810202
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Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution stands at the center of a national paradox: a country of immense potential trapped in cycles of underdevelopment. This book, Elites Struggles and National Development, argues that the constitution is not a neutral charter but a political instrument, shaped by and for Nigeria’s competing elites. Its primary function has been to manage elite competition and control state resources, not to empower citizens or drive transformative progress.The constitution’s flaws are rooted in history. Nigeria inherited a fragmented state from colonial rule, and post-independence elites entrenched a system where politics became a zero-sum contest for the central treasury. Military rule further centralized power. The 1999 Constitution emerged from this context—a top-down military decree, not a popular covenant—creating a lasting legitimacy deficit.Its design reflects this origin. Its “federalism” is highly centralized, making states fiscally dependent on Abuja and turning national politics into a desperate struggle for the center. Chapter Two outlines noble development goals but declares them legally unenforceable, reducing them to mere aspirations. Furthermore, elite manipulation of ethnic and regional identities fractures national citizenship.The Nigerian elite class has consistently acted as a brake on development, prioritizing personal accumulation and short-term gain over long-term national projects. Constitutional amendment processes have done little to change this, as they are controlled by the very elites they would need to constrain.Therefore, Nigeria’s future requires a fundamental re-founding. Piecemeal amendments are insufficient. The nation needs an inclusive process to create a legitimate constitution based on genuine federalism, enforceable socio-economic rights, and a new elite ethos committed to public service. Until this happens, Nigeria’s potential will remain locked within a constitutional order designed for elite accommodation, not national development. Read more

ISBN13 979-8247186731
Language English
Publisher Independently published
Dimensions 7 x 0.36 x 10 inches
Item Weight 13.1 ounces
Print length 159 pages
Publication date February 6, 2026

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