Political Thuggery and Election Crises in Nigeria ( a Case Study of Bayelsa State 2012 to 2019)
CHAPTER ONE
Objectives of the Study
The purpose of this study is to understand political thuggery and election crises in Nigeria by using Bayelsa State as a case study from 2012 to 2019. The specific objectives include the following:
- To examine the relationship between political thuggery and election crises in Nigeria
- To understand the causes of political thuggery and election crises in Bayelsa State from 2012 to 2019
- To determine the effects of political thuggery and election crises on Nigerian democracy
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Political Thuggery in Nigeria
Abisoye (2014) defined thuggery as the process of acting violently, especially in commission of a crime. It is a type of violence and on the order hand it is the act of hunting people, either by world or action. Political thuggery on the order hand may be seen as the illegitimate means of seeking political power. Disappointing and very dishearten is that this political thugs come from homes of Nigeria’s under privilege class, the downtrodden that generation after generation of Nigerian elite leadership created since independent from the British colonial rule. They are school drop outs the unemployed youths (the jobless college and university graduates), who will bend to the will and wins of power-hungry politicians in exchange for some naira notes, the stalk illiterate, who have neve4 gone to school, miscreants, ruffians, street boys or as popularly called “Area boys” are usually the targets of those politicians. Some of these political thugs or Area boys are placed regular salaries, with allowance accompanying their remunerations. Some are later employed by these politicians as special advisers, special assistance and personal assistants, some are made contractors to the government while some who could not meet up with the aforementioned are paid off immediately after their primary assignments.
During campaigns these thugs are being used to instill a sense of fear in to political opponents and even during elections and they causes hitches. These political thugs also create notorious and unhealthy political atmosphere or environment that mostly, voters and even officials are unable to come out in order to exercise their franchise.
Gboyega (2014) observed that political god fathers are by design place above the Laws of the land including the constitution, they and their thugs can carry arms without been prevented by anybody. Far from principles of true democracy, most of these thugs as area pointed out are recruited and trend for various political purpose to destabilise peace, cause tension, violence like intimidation assassination, harassment, rigging. They are entitle to police escort and are imam to crime abduction.
The major problem is that instead of our youths stopping this mirages, it is been carried out by them and they often regards it as normal means to their ends and those who do not fit it to such evil practices suffered their ill consequences.
According to an undisclosed survey, carried out, these thugs were use to rig election in 1999 2003 2007 2011 and 2015 general election in some parts of the country especially in Bayelsa, Borno, Benue, Rivers, Delta and Kano States, where most of the elections where monitored and conducted by the political thugs under the cover of INEC adhoc staff.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Introduction
This chapter describes the research design, the target population and random sampling procedure, the instrument used, method of data collection and method of data analysis.
Research design
This is a descriptive study on Political thuggery and election crises in Nigeria (a case study of Bayelsa state 2012 to 2019).
A sample population will be used to collect primary data using the structured questionnaire and interview as research instrument.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
This chapter is devoted to the presentation, analysis and interpretation of the data gathered in the course of this study. The data are based on the number of copies of the questionnaire completed and returned by the Respondents. The data are presented in frequency tables and percentages.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary of the Findings
The purpose of this study is to understand political thuggery and election crises in Nigeria by using Bayelsa State as a case study from 2012 to 2019. The specific objectives include the following:
- To examine the relationship between political thuggery and election crises in Nigeria
- To understand the causes of political thuggery and election crises in Bayelsa State from 2012 to 2019
- To determine the effects of political thuggery and election crises on Nigerian democracy
Findings from the study revealed the following:
Political contests in Bayelsa State are associated with desperation for power, and violent struggle for political power among politicians.
Political thuggery and election crises has an effect on Nigerian democracy.
The Nigerian political scene has experienced crises and thuggery in varying degrees.
Political violence usually includes snatching of ballot boxes, stuffing of ballot boxes, elimination of political opponents, riots and thuggery, forceful declaration of fake results, etc.
The causes of political violence in Nigeria include: Corruption, Unemployment, Lack of adequate security, Lack of democratic culture, Failure of the justice system.
The ideology of „do or die‟ and godfatherism among Nigerian politicians are one of the root causes of political thuggery.
Environments of economic hardship and poverty can be responsible for youths thuggery activities.
Thuggery and Violence are the two most common elements of Nigerian politics.
Political thuggery constitutes a major threat to national security, instill fear and causes low turnout participation by eligible voters.
CONCLUSION
This study has examined Political thuggery and election crises in Nigeria (a case study of Bayelsa state 2012 to 2019).
thuggery as the process of acting violently, especially in commission of a crime. It is a type of violence and on the order hand it is the act of hunting people, either by world or action. Political thuggery on the order hand may be seen as the illegitimate means of seeking political power. Disappointing and very dishearten is that this political thugs come from homes of Nigeria’s under privilege class, the downtrodden that generation after generation of Nigerian elite leadership created since independent from the British colonial rule. They are school drop outs the unemployed youths (the jobless college and university graduates), who will bend to the will and wins of power-hungry politicians in exchange for some naira notes, the stalk illiterate, who have neve4 gone to school, miscreants, ruffians, street boys or as popularly called “Area boys” are usually the targets of those politicians. Some of these political thugs or Area boys are placed regular salaries, with allowance accompanying their remunerations. Some are later employed by these politicians as special advisers, special assistance and personal assistants, some are made contractors to the government while some who could not meet up with the aforementioned are paid off immediately after their primary assignments.
The Nigerian political scene has experienced crises and thuggery in varying degrees.
It is therefore safe to say that thuggery in Nigerian politics is a means to an end.
Since the first republic, there are no any administrations in Nigeria that can be said to be immune from the syndrome of political thuggery and violence. Thuggery has been elevated to a fashionable but regrettable status within the Nigerian politics. The number of thugs a politician can keep serves as a determining factor for his electoral machinations and outcome. Thuggery has become a means to an end in Nigerian politics. It is a means of sustaining power and life, an asset that brings money for thugs for life sustenance while it brings and sustain power for their barons.
Thugs themselves are mostly the unemployed youths of the society. In a society where it is evident and widely spread, poverty and unemployment may be the cause. To this effect, the government therefore has the responsibility of ensuring that such problems are talked; provide employments opportunities for tits unemployed youths, who are mostly used by these politicians.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on the above findings, the following are recommended;
Thugs themselves are mostly the unemployed youths of the society. In a society where it is evident and widely spread, poverty and unemployment may be the cause. To this effect, the government therefore has the responsibility of ensuring that such problems are talked; provide employments opportunities for tits unemployed youths, who are mostly used by these politicians.
Closely to this there should be a re-orientation of democratically elected leaders themselves for exhibiting good governance and accountability.
Our elected leaders should understand the leadership and divine call from God to serve humanity and not to be served.
Our leaders who use these political thugs should rethink and come an understanding that politics is not a do or die affair.
REFERENCES
- Adebanwi, W. (2004). Democracy and violence: The challenges of communal clashes, In Agbaje
- A.A.R. et al (eds) Nigeria‟s struggle for democracy and good governance (p. 327-378) Ibadan. Ibadan University press
- Afrobarometen (2006). Performance and legitimacy in Nigeria‟s New Democracy.
- Afrobaromete Briefing paper No 46 July.
- Ali, A.S. (2014). Drug Abuse and Political Thuggery Among the Youth in Kano Metropolis: A Modern Civilization or Resource Mismanagement, In Research on Humanities and Social Sciences ISSN 2222-2718.
- Collier, P. and Vincente, P. (2008). Do or Die Affair: Experimental evidence an Electoral
- violence in Nigeria NP: Institutions for pro-poor growth
- Esew N. ( 2003) “The mass media as tool for achieving national integration in Nigeria” In Kwanashie M. (ed) poltics and political power relations in Nigeria, Lagos Dat and Partners logistics Ltd
- Fabowale, Y. (2011). “Oyo’s political killing field; who will bail the pacesetters state from Adedibu’s Legacy?” Daily Sun Friday, March 11 pp 22.
- Gboyega, A. (2004) “Democracy in Nigeria: Dividends prospects and problems” A paper delivered at the event making the fifth Anniversary of Return to civil Democratic Governance in Oyo State. May 26.
- Haruna A and Amodu A.J. (2011). Politics of thuggery and patronage in the North-Eastern, Nigeria, In Academic Research International Vol.1, Issue 1, 2011
- Higley, J. (2005), Elite Theory in Political Sociology, the University of Texas at Austin.
- Jega, A.M. (2007), Democracy, Good Governance and Development in Nigeria: Critical Essays, Spectrum Books Limited, Ibadan
- Karimo, T. M., Krokeyi, W. S. and Ekainsai, S. Z. (2017). Financial Burden Associated with Ill-
- Health: Evidence from the Elderly Population in Nigeria. Equatorial Journal of Social Sciences and Human Behaviour, 2 (1): 25-43.
