Evolution and decline: transformation of social movements in Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Despite the rising academic scholarship on democracy, particularly the role played by social movements in entrenching democracy in Africa, few studies have explored the transformation of social movements after they have achieved (or come close to achieving) their stated goals. Using a case study of the Oodua Peoples Congress in Nigeria, this study argues that social movements in Africa lack the capacity to transform and often become partisan or disintegrate. The study concludes that the unique characteristics of African politics, coupled with the inability of social movements to maintain public support after initial gains, eventually weaken the movements.

RÉSUMÉ

Malgré l’augmentation du nombre d’études universitaires sur la démocratie, en particulier le rôle joué par les mouvements sociaux dans l’enracinement de la démocratie en Afrique, peu d’études ont exploré la transformation des mouvements sociaux après qu’ils aient atteint (ou presque atteint) leurs objectifs déclarés. En s’appuyant sur une étude de cas du Congrès des Peuples Oodua au Nigeria, cette étude avance que les mouvements sociaux en Afrique n’ont pas la capacité de se transformer et deviennent souvent partisans ou se désintègrent. L’étude conclut que les caractéristiques uniques de la politique africaine, associées à l’incapacité des mouvements sociaux à conserver le soutien du public après les gains initiaux, finissent par affaiblir les mouvements.

KEYWORDS:

• Oodua Peoples Congress
• neopatrimonialism
• negative funding
• democratisation
• patronage
• hegemony and counter-hegemony

MOTS-CLÉS:

• Congrès des Peuples Oodua
• néopatrimonialisme
• financement négatif
• démocratisation
• patronage
• hégémonie et contre-hégémonie

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Oyebola Ajala, whose comments have been immensely helpful in preparing this article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1 In addition to the mission statement and vision of the organisation on its website, most interviewees confirmed this aim.

2 The leadership of the OPC has consistently argued that the Yoruba ethnic group has not been treated fairly in Nigeria despite being one of the dominant ethnic groups. This was exacerbated by the annulment of the 12 June 1993 presidential election, which was won by a Yoruba and annulled by a Hausa military president. It is important to state that politics in Nigeria is often clouded by ethnicity and religion.

3 Although there are several criticisms of the concept of neopatrimonialism in explaining African politics and democracy (see Nyaluke 2014; Pitcher, Moran and Johnston 2009), the ethnic dimension through which it is practised in Nigeria (and other African states) makes it a relevant framework through which patronage can be understood.

4 Contracting in this context means paying the leadership of social movements to use their platforms to promote a particular agenda.

5 Many of my interviewees associated the OPC with protests, mass mobilisation and agitations for democracy, so they did not feel the organisation was still relevant after the return of democracy.

6 Comments made by an expert on the workings of the OPC regarding the killings in December 2020.

7 Interviews carried out in August 2015, focused mainly on foot soldiers and political office holders in Lagos and Oyo states.

8 When some groups are formed with the intent of working with politicians for electoral manipulations, they announce their presence with violence. It is widely believed in Nigeria that most politicians will only patronise groups that have the will and means to perpetuate violence, as they are believed to be tough enough to assist politicians to forcefully attain or retain political positions.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Olayinka Ajala

Olayinka Ajala is a lecturer in politics and international relations at the Department of Politics, Leeds Beckett University, UK. His research interests include social movements, resource conflict, terrorism and counterterrorism, human security and the formation of insurgent groups in West Africa and the Sahel. He was previously a visiting fellow at the Combating Terrorism Centre, United States Military Academy, West Point.