The Influence of Godfatherism in Nigeria Politics in the Fourth Republic
CHAPTER ONE
Objective of the Study
The purpose of the study is to investigate the concept of God fatherism, how it influences Nigeria politics and politician and the role of education in Nigeria. How godfatherism is firmly and deeply principle in contemporary Nigeria policies.
This study also examined the role of education in Nigeria politics. How civic education in a democracy is educating government.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Godfathers are generally defined as men who have the power personally to determine both who gets nominated to contest elections and who wins elections in a state. Ibrahim (2003) regarded them as a huge challenge to democracy in the country. Although the godfathers themselves are strictly supportive of the practice.
According to Jubril (1999), Godgatherism is one word that opens narrow doors when it comes to deciding who gets what in the political scene. They make or mar potential candidates all over the country. In fact the concept of godfatherism is firmly establishing itself as a guiding principle in contemporary Nigeria politics.
“One thing in politics is that you must believe in it, I would not be in daddy’s place”, Reverend Jolly Njame, the governor of the northern Jaraba State told Nigerians The Sun Newspaper.
Whether you like it or not, as a godfather, you will not be a governor you will not be a president, but you can make a governor, you can make a president Bahaja, (2003). Since the advent of the present democratic dispensation in May 29th 1999, Nigerians and the political class have come to terms with godfatherism in Nigeria political scene. Across the 36 states of the federation, almost all the elected governors in 1999, 2003, and 2007, have their godfathers who bankrolled their election members of the National Assembly, State Assembly, Local Government and Chairman are not left out in godfatherism. Without a godfather, an aspirant cannot win the party ticket let alone winning the general elections. What an aspirants needs to put into any elected offices of his desire is a powerful godfather who is a law unto himself God-fatherism started in Nigeria as far back as 1954 when politicians such as Late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Tafawa Balewa, the Okpara to mention but a few, held ways the political landscape of Nigeria. All what the aspirant needs then is to become one of the political sons of the big masquerades in the political climate of the godfather and he/she gets elected or appointed into any political office. That was the situation in the first and second republics in Nigeria. Godfathers were not political merchants but leaders of their people and their political parties until the collapse of the second republic. The third republic was short-lived and these was no visible presence of the godfather because of the military in the system.
The case off Anambra State since 1999 when the political godfather Sir Emeka Offor held the then governor, Dr Chinwoke Mbadinugu to ransom that led to the non-payment of salaries and civil servants for more than one year. This resulted in the closure of schools in the state for one year as a result of teachers strike. In 2003 Dr Chris Ngige emerged the governor of the same state through the help of his Godfather. Chief Chris Uba who held the Governor to ransom for more than two years because the political son refused to play according to the agreement.
CHAPTER THREE
METHOD OF THE STUDY
The Research Design
The method employed in this study is the descriptive survey type, this is because the study is designed to determine the nature of the current status of the situation or subject of study (in the influence of godfatherism in Nigeria politics in the fourth republic). It requires the development of an instrument in descriptive method, the major instrument for obtaining relevant data or information, are usually questionnaires and interview.
Population
The population of great concern in this study resolves around Anambra which is taken from two local governments notably Nnewi and Akwa based on political zone.
Sample and Sampling Techniques
The sampling techniques employed in this study is a multi-stage sampling. The first was stratified based on political zones which were followed by local government areas and there after wards location.
CHAPTER FOUR
ANALYSIS OF DATA AND DISCUSSION
A number of property designed questionnaires framed to fully investigate the problem in content were examined for use in this project. In other words, a number of questions reflecting the problems that this project was set to solve were drawn up into questionnaires.
The aim of this project was primarily to know the effect of Godfatherism in Nigeria politics in the fourth republic; the role of education, and this is aimed at analyzing the data collected from the research conducted. The data required to investigate these problems were obtained from the administered questionnaires and interviews.
The questionnaires sent to the respondent sought information in the following areas as analyzed.
As show in table 1, 68.2% agreed that the sponsorship of election by godfathers will lead to various allegation of electorial malpractice while 22.7% undecided and 9.1% disagreed.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Summary
This research work highlights the key issues on this effect of gofatherism and politics in Nigerians political context in the fourth republic. A case study of Anambra elite under executive governor Chief (Dr.) Chris Nwabuze Ngige and Chief Chris Uba as the godfather.
Chapter one of this research work, gave an insight as to what godfatherism is all about. In this chapter we were exposed to the ways and the manners of satisfying aspirants compelling need for the support and sponsorship of money bags.
Chapter two, gave a comprehensive and detailed analysis on the issue of godfatherism in politics.
Chapter three employs the research methodology and also the instrumentation to be used.
Chapter four, gave an analysis of the result of the questionnaire was explicitly analysis.
Conclusion
Research on personably attributes has indicates that, clearly there are not strongly answers to personality out some variable or parameter like the hereditary situations and environmental factors may contribute to any behaviour. Critics argue that ethics are based on “values” and values systems are fixed it an early age by the time. People staff writing in most private and political or public sector, their ethical values are already established, the personality reflects churches, mosques temples and in school. Therefore, critics have concluded that ethics cannot be formally taught but must be example. Our leaders (political) must set ethnical standards by exampling of what they say and do.
In the light of the above, in “gritty” the words of Governor, Nyame in favour of godfatherism in politics, it is much easier fortunately to reach a “gritty verdict on why the famous godfatherism. In favour of god fathers suggests that Chief Chris Uba as a individuals in democratic attempt to shape the political culture of the state before and after he leaves office to benefits his political reference. The verdict is clearly “guilty” as charged.
In a typical African society today traditional kingdom is the only monarch in existence, which of late of formed as private kingdom due to the limited role. Traditional Chiefs played since the introduction is now creating a democracy or public kingdom. When you acquire wealth legally or illegally ones voice becomes an authority. A look at Chief Chris Uba of strong favour of godfatherism in politics, in suggesting the Uba in attempting to create such kingdom whose he can make use of the illegal wealth and dictate the future of Anambra state and in anticipation Nigeria after Chris Ngige steps down. Anambra State cannot be run by a voice of an individual creating an enterprise of one voice in multi ethnic nationalities such as Anambra State will be very dicey.
In conclusion the answer to the Anambra saga rests in the massive restructuring and over haunting of Nigeria’s political system towards the building of an equity based egalitarian, fair and just society, this must encompass elements of commitment towards national restructuring. If those steps are not meticulously allowed another, Anambra might be around the comes as we are beginning to see in Oyo State between Chief Adediba and Governor Rasheed Ladiya, in Kwara State between father and son Alhaji Suraki and Governor Bukola Saraki.
Recommendations
Since many among us are running dirty and dubious business, our prospective or state governors have to go through such sponsorship to be elected or selected, the federal government of Nigeria, must discourage such behaviours by slashing fees within the search of candidates, or no fees to be paid by candidates campaign in their chose party affiliation and their parties screen those individuals thoroughly and preliminaries with no regards to favouritism, but ability to lead.
Recall? Our leaders and lawmakers are people representatives therefore to elect leaders that do not promote public or business interests and the development of our states must not be allowed to contest election or rule that most competent aspirants must be those that could properly represent the people. The need for prospective state governor’s sponsorships through godfathers is encouraging the entrepreneurs of godfatherism to run our state and select our leaders who are incompetent as we all run our respective state. Nigeria society do not need deem fits politicians, but fits capable political leaders.
The final verdict and acceptable in the godfathers in kindness, normally Nigerians must be reorganized or repositioned for the future generations where no one seeks favours for reasons or making money and calling shots instead, godfathers in kind can still cal fairly ethical shots and live a lifetime with fewer problems when our leaders seek godfatherisms in cash would likely be on the loose creating enemies and up in jail.
REFERENCES
- Abiodun, F. (200), January 6 NBO Deplores Courts Ruling for Governor’s Removal. The Guardian Newspaper, p. 122.
- China, A. (2008), December 7, Countering Nigeria’s Anti-Intellectualism.
- Champion Newspaper (2003), October 29, Backstabbing is too much in Politics.
- Dele, O. (2003), October 6, “Arrange” Governors in Trouble, Godfathers Declares War, Tell Magazine.
- Ebun-Olu, A. (2004), November 8, Monetization and Force in Nigerian Politics. Extracted from a paper delivered at a symposium organized by Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Mainland Chapter at Yaba Baptist Church, Lagos.
- Ehusani (2002), November 20, Autocracy are in Power, Nigeria Thisday Newspaper.
