CHAPTER ONE

Introduction

1.0       Background of the Study

There are several types and forms of opposition according to the nature and operation of the political system. The opposition may be defined as all the political parties or movements that do not belong to the parliamentary majority or the government coalition and voice their disagreements and critical views concerning government action and are competing for legal accession to and the peaceful exercise of power. The political opposition is not necessarily the parliamentary opposition, even though it finds the preferred means to ensure its recognition and express its opinions in the deliberative institution. Alexis de Tocqueville defined the majority as “the dominant party or group of political parties exercising and controlling state power”, whereas the eminent French professor of constitutional law Georges Vedel defined the opposition as “a party or group of parties united in their vision of the conquest of political power”.

Ideally, political parties form the bedrock of a democratic system of government. Through political parties, citizens are given the choice to elect their representatives into government from the grassroots to the national level. The Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP), formed by Herbert Macaulay in 1923 became the first political party to emerge in Nigeria during British colonial rule. Since 1960, Nigeria has evolved in its political development. Between 1960 and 1966, there was a parliamentary system of government in place. Nigeria’s first republic (1960- 1966) was cut short when the military staged a coup on January 15, 1966. Between 1966 and 1979, successive military regimes steered the nation’s ship. In 1979, General OlusegunObasanjo (retd), relinquished power to a democratically elected President in the person of AlhajiShehuShagari. Nigeria’s second republic (1979-1983), ended abruptly when the military junta led by General MuhammuduBuhari (retd) took over the reins of power on December 31, 1983. His successor, General Ibrahim Babangida (retd), initiated the aborted third republic that collapsed due to the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election believed to have been won by business mogul, MKO Abiola. The country was engulfed in serious political instability that forced Babangida out of power on August 27, 1993. Babangida set up an Interim National Government (ING) led by Chief Ernest Shonekan. The ING barely lasted for 82 days before General Abacha seized power and ruled till his sudden death on June 8, 1998. His successor, General AbdulsalamiAbubarkar (retd) ushered in the fourth republic in 1999 with the election of OlusegunObasanjo as President of Nigeria. Since 1999, Nigeria has being enjoying uninterrupted democracy.

1.2    Statement of Problem  

The Nigeria nation is beclouded by the menace of under-development. This has resulted to economic hardship and social miscarriages on the citizenry. “Nigeria are having rough time, there is uncontrollable inflation, there is retrenchment, unemployment, factory closure caused by drastic deform in investment and divestments. Moreso, there is a sharp decline in the purchasing power and value of the naira, coupes of social service, low capacity utilization of industries and jobs security Nigerians are leaving below poverty line. Nigeria’s position as an under-developed nation has not changed even with flow of money from oil (Ikejani Clark 1995:132)

  The above have become a bone of contention. The researcher hence intends to find out why under-development has persisted so many years after un-dependence in the presence of abundant human and material resources available to the government. Also with standing that Nigeria has series of leaders and leadership positions both civilian.

1.3    Research Questions

The study shall be guided by the following research questions:

1. What is the roles of opposition party in check and balances in the 8^th Assembly

2.   What is the roles of opposition party in the application of rule of law in the 8^th Assembly

3.   What is the roles of opposition party in enactment of laws in the 8^th Assembly

1.4    Objectives of the Study

The study shall be guided by the following research questions

1. To examine the roles of opposition party in check and balances in the 8^th Assembly

5.   To examine the roles of opposition party in the application of rule of law in the 8^th Assembly

1.   To examine the roles of opposition party in enactment of laws in the 8^th Assembly

1.5       Hypothesis

There is no significant effect of the roles of opposition party in check and balances in the 8^th Assembly

There is no significant effect of roles of opposition party in the application of rule of law in the 8^th Assembly

There is no significant effectofroles of opposition party in enactment of laws in the 8^th Assembly

1.6       Significance of The Study

The significance of this study can be viewed from the following perspectives. One main significance of this study is that when completed, it would serve as a bridge for the gap that have been created between where previous works on this subject area stopped and today. This study is significant in the sense that it’s finding would serve as a base and framework for future researchers to carry out further studies in the field of knowledge under study.

 The government would benefit from this study in view of the fact that they would learn about the plausible roles opposition parties in the 8^th assembly and how they contributing their quota to national development and the image of country both within and outside the shores of Nigeria.

The outcome of this research is hoped to be of immense use to students of politics and human behavour since it contains information on the development of Nigerian politics

1.7    Limitation of the Study

In every research work, it is likely that the researcher may encounter some limitations. The researcher encountered some challenges during the period of carrying out this research. Some of these challenges include the dearth of materials for a proper and effective research work constituted a major limitation. Again, how to get the true and required information from the students through questionnaire also constituted a constraint in the study.

Finally, there was the problem of convincing the respondents on the primary objectives of the questionnaire so as to give the true and required information. However, the intervention of the administrator in the party secretariat who took time to clear the air and convince their staff helped the investigator to administer the instrument successfully.

1.8    Scope of the Study

The scope of the study was delimited to assessment of the roles of opposition party in the 8^th assembly

1.9    Definitions of terms

Role: Functions, expectations associated on a given past or position

Mobilizing: It has to do with organizing or preparing people for a particular purpose.

Participation:    Taking active part in that particular activity or event.

Politics: A competition between political parties to wards who or which party assumes political leadership