Socio-Political Exclusion as Bane of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic

Abstract

This work focuses on socio-political exclusion which characterises the Nigerian fourth republic and the damage it has brought to the system. It is structured to address the conceptualizations of Socio-political exclusion, Democracy, and the Nigerian Fourth Republic; observed acts of socio-political exclusion in the Nigeria’s Fourth Republic and the repercussion of this exclusion on the nation. Exploiting the Marxist social conflict theory and drawing information from events which have been unfolding as depicted in the news media and other authoritative sources, the discourse observes that, the myriad of problems inherent in contemporary Nigeria sprang out of the unlevelled political playing field designed and handed down by the ruling class made up of retired military and their civilian cronies. It concludes therefore that unless the political contest field is redesigned to accommodate those that are currently excluded from both socio political and economic activities; the ensuing crises might bring the fourth republic just like its predecessors to an undesirable end.