The church and the making of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic

Abstract

For long, the military was a cog in the wheel of democratic governance in Nigeria. Its intrusion into the politics of the nation resulted to its domination of the political space and imposition of arbitrary rule for an aggregate period of 29 years out of the nation’s 47 years of existence. The last disengagement of the military from politics was effected on 29, May 1999. The Fourth Republic was thus inaugurated, heralding yet another phase in the nation’s quest for democratic governance. The restoration of democratic rule was not achieved on a platter of gold. The military junta was subjected to intense domestic and international pressure. Along with myriad civil society groups, the church added its voice to the clamour for democracy. But inspite of its visible role in this struggle, the efforts of the church remain unsung. This study is intended partly as a redress for the marginal attention paid to the patriotic struggle of the church, but more significantly, it is an attempt to illuminate the increasing concern of the church with the secular welfare of its flock.