THE CHALLENGES OF PROMOTING CENTRIPETAL FORCES IN NIGERIA’S SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

The Focus of the Research is to examine the challenges of promoting Centripetal forces in Nigeria's democracy, examine the Centripetal forces in Nigeria and evaluate if they serve their purposes Realize the Challenges and proffer solutions to the problems. The researcher employed Descriptive research design and Sample and sampling technique. Information and Data was sourced via primary data collated from questionnaire enabling the researcher to realize Numerical data. This study investigated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), religious organizations, National Youth Service Corps, Federal Character Principle, Unity Schools and other institutions as centripetal forces. However, it was investigated that insecurity, ethnic-politics, corruption, poverty, unemployment all take leading position as challenges of promotion of centripetal forces in Nigeria’s democracy. Given to the above, we conclude that there are many challenges of centripetal forces in Nigeria that have always been accompanied by high tension since inception of democracy in 1999.Based on the findings of the study, the researcher made recommendations that For Nigeria’s democracy to be fruitful, all the parties involved (Politicians, INEC, Security agents, judiciary and Citizens) in electoral process must be committed towards ensuring free and fair elections and constitutionally guaranteed restructuring of the polity. that among other things grant autonomy to the ethnic nationalities will therefore suffice to remedy the challenges troubling Nigeria at the moment, lastly that The need to devolve and de-concentrate power to other component units of the Nigerian federation as prescribed by the federal principle is imperative in today’s Nigeria.