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The Perils of Protest: State Repression and Student Mobilization in Nigeria

  • Chapter
Encountering the Nigerian State

Part of the book series: Africa Connects ((AFC))

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Abstract

Student protest is not unique to Nigeria. Students are one of the most vocal groups in countries all over the world, and student protests and demonstrations are experienced in all the continents of the world. Students, especially university students, carry out protests and demonstrations to show their dissatisfaction over diverse issues (Smith, 1968; Brickman and Lehrer, 1970; Ericson, 1975; Lipset, 1993). In various parts of the world, their protests have even resulted in ousting or shaking up governments. In 1968, violent protests by students in France almost ousted the government of President Charles de Gaulle, and in fact, he eventually had to step down from office the following year. In July 1988, the prime minister of Burma had to step down after 26 years in power as a result of 2 months of student protests (Lintner, 1988: 18–19). Also, in South Korea in 1987, student protests forced the government to conduct elections, which resulted in a significant political change.

The cost of liberty is less than the price of repression.

—W.E.B. Dubois

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan, Nigeria

    Bukola Akintola (Lecturer)

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  1. Bukola Akintola
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of California, Davis, USA

    Wale Adebanwi (Assistant Professor of African American and African Studies) (Assistant Professor of African American and African Studies)

  2. University of Kansas, Lawrence, USA

    Ebenezer Obadare (Assistant Professor of Sociology) (Assistant Professor of Sociology)

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© 2010 Wale Adebanwi and Ebenezer Obadare

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Akintola, B. (2010). The Perils of Protest: State Repression and Student Mobilization in Nigeria. In: Adebanwi, W., Obadare, E. (eds) Encountering the Nigerian State. Africa Connects. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230109636_5

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