CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
The
Nigerian political process prior to the year 1999 has been dominated by
military rule, but with the introduction of democratic rule after several years
of political subjugation or hostage in
the hands of the military, the political process seem to be under threat with
the emergence of political mentors or godfathers of public office holders
[godsons].These godfathers are rich and had so much political influence within
their individual states and the country in general. They decide who become
governor, legislator, local government chairman etc in their constituencies.
They ensure that they get into political offices through whatever means whether
legitimate or illegitimate, largely employing unconventional methods to achieve
their aim of political relevance. They believe that every man has his price and
would spend money to win the support of other people in the pursuance of their
political interest; elections are rigged with falsification of electoral
results to achieve their objective with members of the opposition suppressed or
assassinated if becoming difficult to handle.
According to Adebanjo, (2004), the concept
of godfatherism is firmly establishing itself as a guiding principle in contemporary
Nigeria politics. Godfathers are generally defined as men who have the power
personally to determine both who gets nominated to contest elections and who
wins in the election. In the past, Nigerian society had fewer criminals that
the judicial systems attempted to contend with in recent times, our judicial
systems cannot contend with such because Nigerian society is building criminals
at rapid pales in the late 20th and early 21st centuries
through democratization and militarization practices, when the governing
systems failed to deliver the other takes over.
Ajayi, (2005) asserted that, in democracy
one way that regime is breeding criminals is through godfather’s, godfatherims
is old fashion enterprise that circulates around nation with different names or
headings for centuries. Godfathers in Nigeria is a topic that has not been
given enough attention until recent coup that exposed Chief Chris Uba,
estranged political Godfather of Chief Dr. Chris Ngige among political
criminals that is behind elections or selection of most of our state governors
and other law makers (Coker, 2004). Apparently it appears majority of our state
governors are financed by such caliber of person and for those financed by
their godfathers get into offices now have huge power in respective states.
They assigned civil services and or political positions to who are not of the people
but people of the private interest (Dangote, 2004).
However, Godfatherism has become a scary
phenomenon in Nigerian politics. As rightly observed by Omotola (2007),
Godfatherism in Nigeria, particularly in its current form and character, is
distributive. Though it is a longstanding and deeply rooted feature of the
cultural values of Nigerian society, where it is purely socio-economic in
nature and mutually productive for both parties, its politicization would
appear to have contributed to the criminalization of
politics.
For example, the Hausa have a well-institutionalized system where the godfather
is known as “Maigida” (landlord or head of household). Godfathers reign across
all spheres of the society: academics, legal, and religion environment.
Consequently, the impact of the
godfathers on Nigeria’s general elections was unprecedented. Godfathers as
those who have the security connections, extended local links, enormous
financial weight to plot and determine the success of a power seeker at any
level of a supposedly competitive politics has an institutionalized feature in
Nigerian politics over the years, its contemporary manifestations suggest that
it has assumed epidemic proportions,
becoming one of the greatest threats to democratic consolidation in Nigeria
(Omotola, 2007).
The recent activities of some Nigerian
godfathers could be likened to attributes of mafianism; however, some still see
the existence of godfathers as the balancer of power in a democracy. Akinola
(2009) believes in the need to have a good-hearted individual (people’s hero)
at the sole realm of absolute power, a godfather distributes power as he deems,
and anoints who rules. But, godfatherism has taken a strange dimension in
Nigeria’s political environment. It has become a menace pulling down the
foundations of masses-driven governance, thereby denying Nigerians the
much-deserved dividends of democracy.
Therefore, it is against this backdrop
that the researcher has been prompted to examine the issue of godfatherism and
electorial politics in Nigeria.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Over the years, money and influence
has been considered as the only determinant of an election in Nigeria political
content, most politician join confraternity or go into feeble and illegal
agreement with powerful rich mobile Nigeria before they could contest
elections. Nigerians are therefore not happy with the abysmal performance of a
large number of governors, legislators and local government council chairman;
who unfortunately cannot be called to order as long as they remain in the good
books of their political godfathers.
This has translated into bad
governance with the failure to socio-politically and economically transform our
societies regardless of the huge amount often allocated to the various levels
of government that have not been able to justify such government spending. As
long as political sons continue to pay homage or remain loyal to their mentor
and godfather their stay in office is guaranteed regard less of their
performance or the people interest. Thus the several fighting between
godfathers and their political sons that has occurred in several states of the
federation becomes interesting.
There is now the cries of confidence
between some state governors and their godfathers is spreading like a plague
and the combatant are battling for the control of their states, in a manner
that will qualify for a national disgrace while the people and government
suffer this ugly development. Experience
has, however, shown that the application of this concept has mostly resulted to
democratic failures and disasters. From denial of electing credible candidates
to imposition of mediocrity into political and appointive positions, and the
whole experience has been that of pains, misery, penury, squalor and damnation
arising from poor performance and poor service delivery among godsons.
1.3 Purpose of the study
The purpose of the study is to
examine the concept of godfatherism and electorial politics in Nigeria.
However, to achieve this broad objective, the researcher considers the
following specific objectives;
(i)
To determine the role of godfatherism as a guiding principle
in contemporary Nigeria politics.
(ii)
To understand the place of money and influence as a
determinant of an election in Nigeria political content
(iii)
To evaluate the impact of
godfathers on Nigeria’s General elections
(iv)
To understand the relationship and
contradictions between Political
godfathers and governance
1.4 Research Questions
The following research questions
were raised to guide the study.
(i)
To what extent does godfatherism act as a guiding principle in contemporary
Nigeria politics?
(ii)
To what extent does money and influence serve as a
determinant of an election in Nigeria political content?
(iii)
To what extent does godfathers
impact on Nigeria’s General elections?
(iv)
What is the relationship and
contradictions between Political
godfathers and governance?
1.5 Research hypothesis
(i)
There is no significant relationship between godfatherism and
contemporary Nigeria politics
(ii)
There is no significant
relationship between money and
election in Nigeria political content
(iii)
There is no significant
relationship between godfathers and Nigeria’s General elections
(iv)
There is no significant relationship between Political
godfathers and governance
1.6 Significance of the Study
A study of this nature is significant in many ways;
Law makers: the findings of this study will
give lawmakersthe opportunity to review the
electoral laws to the extent that
offenders will not be spared no matter their position in the society will be
duely punished, hence it will reduce the trend of godfathers and godson politics
in Nigeria.
Policy formulators: Finding from this study will help
policy makers to chart an effective policy direction that will influence and
inculcate positive values in the Nigerian electoral politics.
The judiciary: The study will help thejudiciary put necessary machineries in
place that will facilitate speedy delivery of justice in the elections petition
tribunal with a good sense of responsibility void of any fear of favour
Students: The study will of great importance
as a literature base for student who intends to carry research on a related
subject matter.
Finally, the findings of this study will lay a solid
foundation to researchers to improve upon.
1.7 Delimitation of the Study
This study will be focused mainly on
the influence of godfatherism in Nigeria electoral politics. The study will explore the concept
of godfatherism as it connotes the invasion of the
political candidates by discarnate powerful sponsor, tending to complete
possession for the purpose of selfish gratification, the godfather is the
political slave merchant while the godson is the political slave or slave boy
or political article for sale. This study is to look at political godfatherism and its
implication on the Nigerian political process. How political office holders are
elected into public offices will be considered and to know why they do not
perform particularly as they enjoy the support of their political mentors.
1.8 Definition of Terms
Godfather is a man who promises to help a child and teach him or her
values. And in another definition godfathers is said to be the head of a
criminal organization or mafia group
Political:- Connected with the governmentor public affairs of a country and its relation with other
country.
Process: A series of natural developments or events that produce
gradual change or a series of actions that someone takes in order to achieve a
particular result. Godson: – A boy
that a godparent promises to help and to teach Christian values