Nijerya’nın Dördüncü Cumhuriyetinde Demokratik Yönetişim ve İnsan Hakları İhlalleri: Uluslararası İnsan Hakları Hukuku Üzerindeki Etkisi

Yıl 2022, Cilt: 8 Sayı: 18, 467 - 486, 31.10.2022

Dingji Maza Kangdim Olusegun Ilemore Cemal Yorgancıoğlu Nanbilip Ruth Bakyil

Öz

Nijerya’da demokrasi, General Abdulsalami Abubakar’ın son askeri döneminin, iktidarı Şef Olusegun Obasanjo’nun demokratik olarak seçilmiş hükümetine devrettiği 1999 yılında kalıcı hale gelmiştir. Bununla birlikte, yerleşmesine ve sağlamlaştırılmasına rağmen, insan hakları ihlalleri gibi birçok zorlukla karşı karşıyadır. Bu bağlamda, bu makale Nijerya’nın dördüncü cumhuriyetinde demokratik yönetişim paradoksunu ve insan hakları ihlallerinin zorluklarını ve bunun uluslararası insan hakları hukuku ilkesini nasıl etkilediğini incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Nitel araştırma metodolojisini, çeşitli mevcut çalışmaların kapsamlı bir masa başı incelemesi yoluyla kullanan çalışmanın bulguları, Nijerya’daki demokratik ve sivil alanın kesintiye uğramamasına rağmen, Nijerya’daki gerçek demokratik idealleri ve ilkelerini sağlamlaştırmanın sorunlu olmaya devam ettiğini, bunun Nijerya siyasetinin çeşitli sektörlerinde insan hakları ihlallerinin yaygınlığından kaynaklandığını göstermektedir. Ayrıca, Birleşmiş Milletler gibi uluslararası aktörlerin Nijerya otoritesi tarafından insan haklarını kötüye kullanma eylemlerini kontrol etme ve yaptırım uygulamadaki yetersizliğinin, demokratik yönetişimin güçlendirilmesini ve Nijerya devleti içindeki ideallerini olumsuz yönde etkilediğini ortaya koymaktadır. Dolayısıyla bu çalışma, küresel, bölgesel ve ulusal düzeylerdeki uygun kurum ve aktörlerin, tüm Nijeryalıların haklarına ve ayrıcalıklarına saygı gösterilmesini değil, aynı zamanda anayasada açıkça belirtildiği gibi korunmasını sağlamaları gerektiğini öne sürerek, Nijerya’da demokratik yönetişimi güçlendirmek ve derinleştirmek için bu zorlukları ele almaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Demokrasi, Demokratik Yönetim, İnsan Hakları, İnsan Hakları İhlalleri, Nijerya

Democratic Governance and Human Rights Violations in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic: It’s Implication on International Human Rights Law

Öz

Democracy has become permanent in Nigeria in 1999 when the last military dispensation of General Abdulsalami Abubakar handed over power to a democratically elected government of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. However, despite its entrenchment and consolidation, it faces many challenges like human rights violations. In this context, this article aims to examine the paradox of democratic governance and the challenges of human rights violations in Nigeria’s fourth republic, and how it impacted the principle of international human rights law. Using qualitative research methodology through an extensive desk review of several extant studies, the findings of the study suggest that despite the non-interruption of the democratic and civil space in Nigeria, entrenching true democratic ideals and their tenets in Nigeria remains problematic this is due to the prevalence of human rights violations across various sectors of the Nigerian polity. It further revealed that the inability of international actors like the United Nations in checkmating and sanctioning acts of human rights abuse by the Nigerian authority negatively affects the strengthening of democratic governance and its ideals within the Nigerian state. This study, therefore, addresses these challenges to strengthen and deepen democratic governance in Nigeria, suggesting that appropriate agencies and actors at the global, regional, and national levels should ensure that the rights and privileges of all Nigerians are not only respected but also protected as expressly stated in the constitution.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Democracy, Democratic Governance, Human Rights, Human Rights Violations, Nigeria

Kaynakça

• Acemoglu, D., & Robinson, J. A. (2006). Economic origins of dictatorship and democracy. Cambridge University Press.
• Adenrele, A. R., & Olugbenga, O. M. (2014). Challenges of human rights abuses in Nigerian democratic governance–which way forward?. Journal of Social Economics Research, 1(5), 87-96.
• Adenrele, A. R., & Olugbenga, O. M. (2014). Challenges of human rights abuses in Nigerian democratic governance–which way forward?. Journal of Social Economics Research, 1(5), 87-96.
• Adesote, A. S., & Abimbola, J. O. (2014). Electoral Violence and the Survival of Democracy in Nigeria’sFourth Republic: A Historical Perspective. Canadian Social Science, 10(3), 140-148.
• Adishi, E., & Oluka, N. L. (2018). Domestic counter-terrorism mechanism and human right abuse in Nigeria: The north-east experience. Journal of Political Science and Leadership Research, 4(2), 26-32.
• Agbaenyi, A. N., & Anekwe, S. C. (2019). Illiberal Governance And Human Rights Situation In Africa’s Democracies. International Journal of Innovative Research and Advanced Studies, 6(6), 76-77.
• Aka, P. C. (2003). Nigeria since May 1999: Understanding the paradox of civil rule and human rights violations under President Olusegun Obasanjo. San Diego Int’l LJ, 4, 209.
• Ake, C. (1990). The case for democracy. In The Carter Center: African governance in the 1990s: Objectives, reserves and constraints. Atlanta: The Carter Center of Emory University.
• Ake, C. (2000). Feasibility of democracy in Africa. Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa, Dakar, SN.
• Ambani, J. O., Orago, N. W., Khobe, O. W., Ogendi, P., Kamau, W., Bosire, C., ... & Aura-Odhiambo, R. (2015). Human rights and democratic governance in Kenya: A post-2007 appraisal. PULP.
• Antkowiak, T. M., & Gonza, A. (2017). The American Convention on Human Rights: Essential Rights. Oxford University Press.
• Anyaele, J. U. (1994). Comprehensive government. Lagos: A Johnson (Publishing) enterprises.
• Anyim, W. O. (2021). Twitter Ban in Nigeria: Implications on Economy, Freedom of Speech and Information Sharing. Library Philosophy and Practice, 0_1-13.
• Attahiru, J., & Okechuckwu, I. (2007). Elections and the future of democracy in Nigeria. Nigerian Political Science Publication.
• Ayele, S. O. (1992). Human Rights in Africa: Implications for democratic transition (1986-91). In B. Caron, A. Gboyega and E. Osaghae (Eds.), Democratic transition in Africa. Proceedings of the Symposium on Democratic Transition in Africa. Ibadan, June 16-19, 1992.
• Bamgbose, J. A. (2012). Electoral violence and Nigeria’s 2011 general elections. International review of social sciences and humanities, 4(1), 205-219.
• Becht, M., Bolton, P., & Roell, A. (2002). Corporate Governance and Control. European Corporate Governance Institute (No. 02). Finance Working Paper.
• Bell, S. (2002). Governance and institutional dynamics. Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
• Bevir, M. (2006). Democratic governance: Systems and radical perspectives. Public administration review, 66(3), 426-436.
• Bevir, M. (2010). Democratic governance. Princeton University Press.
• Chemerinsky, E. (2007). Challenging direct democracy. Mich. St. L. Rev., 293-306.
• Cohen, J. L. (2008). Rethinking human rights, democracy, and sovereignty in the age of globalization. Political theory, 36(4), 578-606.
• Dada, J. A. (2013). Judicial remedies for human rights violations in Nigeria: A critical appraisal. Journal of Law, Policy and Globalization, 10, 1-18.
• Dahl, R. (1989). Democracy and its critics. New Haven: Yale University Press.
• David, B., & Kevin, B. (1995). Introducing democracy: 80 questions and answers. Cambridge: Polity Press and Blackwell Publishes Ltd.
• Davies, J. S. (2011). Challenging governance theory: From networks to hegemony. Policy Press.
• De Schutter, O. (2019). International human rights law. Cambridge University Press.
• Diamond, L. (1988). Class, ethnicity, and democracy in Nigeria: The failure of the first republic. Syracuse University Press.
• Durojaye, E. (2013). ‘Woman, but not human’: widowhood practices and human rights violations in Nigeria. International Journal of Law, Policy and the Family, 27(2), 176-196.
• Egwu, S. G. (1998). Democracy at Bay: Ethnicity and Nigeria’s Democratic Eclipse, 1986-1995. AFRIGOV, African Centre for Democratic Governance.
• Elaigwu, J. I. (2002). Democracy, Transparency and Accountability in Nigeria. Newswatch Annual Lecture, Lagos. Newswatch, 6(2), 21-19.
• Elaigwu, J. I. (2005). Nigeria: Yesterday and today for tomorrow: Essays in governance and society. Aha Publishing House.
• Elebute, A. (2015). Issues on the gagging of Nigerian press with obnoxious laws. Afrrev Ijah: An International Journal of Arts And Humanities, 4(1), 207-223.
• Endong, F. P. C. (2019). From Dictatorship to Black Man’s Democracy: How has Freedom of the Press Improved in Nigeria and Cameroon?. Journal of Media Studies, 33(1).
• Enemuo, F. C. (1992). The resurgence of multi-party democracy in Africa: what hopes for the downtrodden. Nigerian Journal of International Affairs, 18(2), 26-39.
• Federal Republic of Nigeria. (1999). The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Lagos: Federal Government Press.
• Francis, E., & Remi, A. (1994). Elements of politics. Lagos: Malthous Press Limited.
• Fukuyama, F., & McFaul, M. (2008). Should democracy be promoted or demoted?. Washington Quarterly, 31(1), 23-45..
• Gerring, J., & Thacker, S. C. (2008). A centripetal theory of democratic governance. Cambridge University Press.
• Gold, M. (2019). The Swiss Paradox: Egalitarianism and Hierarchy in a Model Democracy. Social Analysis, 63(1), 22-43.
• Grinin, L. E. (2004). Early state and democracy. The Early State, Its Alternatives and Analogues, 419-463.
• Heater, D. B. (1964). Political ideas in the modern world. George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd.
• Huntington, S. P. (1999). Political order in changing societies. Yale University Press.
• Hyde, S. D., & Pallister, K. (2015). Election administration, election observation, and election quality. In Routledge Handbook of Comparative Political Institutions (pp. 255-271). Routledge.
• Ibuowo, O. F. (2021). Limitations of Human rights in Nigeria: Factors Influencing the Implementation of Human rights in Nigeria. Generation PP. Приложение к журналу” Публичная политика”, 1(4), 46-52.
• Ijaiya, B. L. D. (2016). The Limitations of fundamental human rights in Nigeria: a critical analysis. Political Science Review, 7(2).
• International Committee of Red Cross. (2015). ‘What is the difference between IHL and human rights law?’ Retrieved October 20, 2021, from https://www.icrc.org/en/ document/what-difference-between-ihl-and-human-rights-law
• Itodo, O. G. (2021). John Locke on Liberal Democracy: A Critical Appraisal. International Journal of Public Administration and Management Research, 6(3), 104-108.
• Jauhari, A. (2011). Colonial and post-colonial human rights violations in Nigeria. Government, Politics & Global Studies Faculty Publications. Paper 5.
• Joseph, S., & Castan, M. (2013). The international covenant on civil and political rights: cases, materials, and commentary. Oxford University Press.
• Kaufmann, D. (2005). Myths and realities of governance and corruption. Available at SSRN 829244. University Library of Munich, Germany.
• Kelley, J. G. (2012a). Monitoring democracy. Princeton University Press.
• Kelley, J. G. (2012b). International influences on elections in new multiparty states. Annual Review of Political Science, 15, 203-220.
• Kriesi, H. (2005). Direct democratic choice: The Swiss experience. Lexington Books.
• Kriesi, H. (2007). The participation in Swiss direct-democratic votes. In C. H. de Vreese, (Ed.), The dynamics of referendum campaigns (pp. 117-141). London: Palgrave Macmillan.
• Lean, S. F. (2007). Democracy assistance to domestic election monitoring organizations: Conditions for success. Democratisation, 14(2), 289-312.
• Mangala, J. (2013). Africa-EU partnership on democratic governance and human rights. In J. Mangala, (Ed.), Africa and the European Union (pp. 69-92). New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
• Meagher, K. (2014). Disempowerment from below: Informal enterprise networks and the limits of political voice in Nigeria. Oxford Development Studies, 42(3), 419-438.
• Moeckli, D., Shah, S., Harris, D., & Sivakumaran, S. (Eds.). (2014). International human rights law. Oxford University Press..
• Moliki, A. O., & Dauda, K. O. (2017). An assessment of the mass media performance in the Nigeria’s 2015 general elections. Lapai International Journal of Administration (LIJAD), 1(1), 467-485.
• Moore, R. T., & Ravishankar, N. (2009). Differential disadvantage: The political misfortunes of minority voters in direct democracy. Unpublished paper, Washington University in St. Louis.
• Morsink, J. (2010). The universal declaration of human rights. University of Pennsylvania Press.
• Natufe, O. I. (2006, June). Governance and politics in Nigeria. In A lecture delivered at Staff and Graduate Seminar, Department of Politics and Public Administration, University of Benin.
• Nicolescu-Waggonner, C. (2016). No rule of law, no democracy: Conflicts of interest, corruption, and elections as democratic deficits. Suny Press.
• Norris, P. (2017). Strengthening electoral integrity. Cambridge University Press.
• Nwolise, O. B. (2007). Electoral violence and Nigeria’s 2007 elections. Journal of African Elections, 6(2), 155-179.
• O’donnell, G. (2004). The quality of democracy: Why the rule of law matters. Journal of democracy, 15(4), 32-46.
• Obakhedo, N. O. (2011). Curbing electoral violence in Nigeria: The imperative of political education. African Research Review, 5(5), 99-110.
• Ojo, E. O. (2006). Human rights and sustainable democracy in Nigeria (1999-2003). Journal of Social Sciences, 13(1), 15-29.
• Ojo, M. O. D. (2014). The Nigeria police and the search for integrity in the midst of diverse challenges: An effective police management approach. International Journal of Police Science & Management, 16(2), 87-100.
• Okunoye, B., Xynou, M., Evdokimov, L., Alabi, S., & Okoli, C. (2018). Measuring Internet Censorship in Nigeria.
• Olannye-Okonofua, D. (2021). Twitter Ban in Nigeria: A Metaphor for Impediment on Uses and Gratification Theory. International Journal of Social Sciences, 4(1), 198-206.
• Oluduro, O. (2014). Oil exploitation and human rights violations in Nigeria’s oil producing communities. Intersentia.
• Onwuazombe, I. I. (2017). Human rights abuse and violations in Nigeria: A case study of the oil-producing communities in the Niger Delta Region. Ann. Surv. Int’l & Comp. L., 22(1), 115-160.
• Osahor, M. C. (2003). Unionism and the future of education in a democratic Nigeria: The challenges before COEASU. A keynote address presented at a National Conference organized by COEASU, Federal College of Education, Pankshin, 17th September, 2003.
• Pallister, K. (2017). Election administration and the politics of voter access. Routledge.
• Poast, P., & Urpelainen, J. (2015). How international organizations support democratization: preventing authoritarian reversals or promoting consolidation?. World Politics, 67(1), 72-113.
• Pogge, T. (2005). World poverty and human rights. Ethics & international affairs, 19(1), 1-7.
• Post, R. (2011). Participatory democracy and free speech. Va. L. Rev., 97, 477-489.
• Rainey, B., McCormick, P., & Ovey, C. (2020). Jacobs, white, and Ovey: The European convention on human rights. USA: Oxford University Press.
• Reif, L. C. (2000). Building democratic institutions: The role of national human rights institutions in good governance and human rights protection. Harv. Hum. Rts. J., 13, 1-69.
• Saul, B., Kinley, D., & Mowbray, J. (2014). The international covenant on economic, social and cultural rights: commentary, cases, and materials. OUP Oxford.
• Schumpeter, J. A. (1950). Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy. New York: Harper Perennial.
• Sepúlveda, M. M., & Carmona, M. M. S. (2003). The nature of the obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Vol. 18). Intersentia nv.
• Smith, R. (2020). International human rights law. Oxford University Press, USA.
• Suraj, O. A. (2020). Online surveillance and the repressive Press Council Bill 2018: A two-pronged approach to media self-censorship in Nigeria. In Journalist Safety and Self-Censorship (pp. 80-99). Routledge.
• Turner, C. (2008). Delivering lasting peace, democracy and human rights in times of transition: The role of international law. The International Journal of Transitional Justice, 2(2), 126-151.
• Umegbolu, C. (2020). End SARS: A Revolution by the people for the people on police brutality in Nigeria.
• Umozurike, U. O. (1997). The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Brill Nijhoff.
• Uwazuruike, A. R. (2020). # EndSARS: The Movement Against Police Brutality in Nigeria. Harvard Human Rights Journal. Retrieved 25 October, 2021, from http://clok.uclan.ac.uk/35527/3/35