CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the study
The concept of godfatherism is firmly establishing itself as a guiding principle in contemporary Nigerian politics. Godfathers are generally defined as men who have the power personally to determine both who gets nominated to participate in elections and who wins the election. In the past, Nigerian society had less crime that the judicial systems have attempted to deal with. Lately, our legal systems can not deal with that because Nigerian society built criminals fast in the late 20th and early 21st centuries by practices of democratization and militarization, where the governing systems failed to deliver the other takes over. In democracy, one way that the government is breeding criminals is by sponsoring godfatherism. Godfathers in Nigeria is a subject that has not been given sufficient attention until recent coup that exposed Chief Chris Uba, former head of the political godfather, Dr. Chris Ngige among political criminals is behind the election or selection of most of our state governors and other legislators. Apparently it seems most of our state governors are funded by this caliber of person and for those funded by their sponsors enter the offices now have enormous power in the respective states. In a political context, the concept is an ideology that is defended on the belief that some people possess considerable resources to unilaterally determine who get the ticket of a party to run for election and who wins in the electoral competition. Gambo (2009) argues that the sponsors are men who have the 'power' and influence to decide who nominated context of elections and who wins the election. In this sense, means godfatherism office seekers connect to a person who is supposed to have the ability to provide a desired result in an electoral competition. It is traditional for the search for a political father to help promote political aspiration of one. Bassey and Enetak (2008) conceptualized godfatherism to describe the power and influence of people who are politically relevant to decide who gets nominated to contest elections and who eventually wins the election. Sponsors are politically very mobile and can influence the political support to the political party / or candidate behind which they throw their political weight. Those who play godfatherism are known as sponsors, while those who benefit from their kindness are known as referrals. The advent of godfatherism in Nigerian partisan politics dates back to the First Republic when the leaders of the three main political parties (Northern Peoples Congress (NPC), Action Group (AG) and the Nigerian Citizens National Congress (NCNC) downline carefully and meticulously cultivated they believed would improve the welfare of citizens. According Uzoamaka (2010), Ahmadu Bello NPC, Nnamdi Azikiwe and Obafemi Awolowo of the NCNC AG were motivated to do not to use referrals as substitutes to promote parochial interests, but to promote people's development aspirations. Unlike the current crop of political godfathers, the first generation of sponsors were essentially benign and progressive because they abuse their status sponsors imposing excessive demands on their downline as is the case today. Literally sponsors are seen in Nigeria to be men who have the power personally to determine both who is designated to participate in elections and who wins in a state. Those employed in the bureaucracy and those who get robust assignments and deployments
1.2. Statement of the problem
Democracy could be better as compared to the Military Era before the fourth republic but, it has been characterized with Godfatherism, politicking of core government policies and programmes vis-à-vis interest of the masses. Furthermore, the current democratic system has been threatened with policy somersault, policy reversal, human right abuse, economic bondage and monumental corruption. It is against this backdrop that the research is being carried out with the intent of proffering solutions to the democratic challenges witnessed.
1.3. Objectives of the study
The general objective of the study is to examine the causes and effects of Godfatherism on Nigerianpolitics in the fourth republic. Other objectives include:
i. To identify the remote and immediate causes of Godfatherism on Nigerian politics.
ii. To expose the negative effects on the socio-economic lives of the citizens of Nigeria.
iii. To proffer solutions to the identified problems towards enhancing a just and an egalitarian society in Nigeria.
iv. To examine the factors responsible for the formation and sustenance of youth groups that constitute political war machines and their mode(s) of organization as agency of godfatherism in Nigerian politics.
1.4. Research questions
1. In what ways can you suggest solutions to the identified problems towards enhancing a just and an egalitarian society in Nigeria?
2. What are the remote and immediate causes of Godfatherism and party polities inNigeria?
3. Does Godfatherism and party politics affect the socio-economicLives of the citizens Nigeria?
4. How can these negative people be eradicated from Nigeria?
5. How can Godfatherism be stopped in Nigeria?
1.5. Significance of the study
This material will strengthen theDemocratic institution to eschew the system from Godfatherism and politicization of core government policies and programmes.
This study will also proffer solutions to the identified problems towards enhancing a just and an egalitarian society in Nigeria.
1.6. Scope/Limitations of the study
The study examines the influence of Godfatherism on Nigerian politics in the fourth republic (Role of education).
Limitations of study
1. Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
2. Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.
1.7. THEORITICAL FRAME WORK
This work adopts the ‘economy of affection’ and the ‘social exchange’ theories as explicited by (Hyden, 2006) in explaining the findings of the research. The theory is considered apt because it explains the formation, structure and modes of sustenance of both formal and informal institutions and associations in contemporary Africa. The theory elaborates on how weaknesses of the state and formal institutions reinforce people’s confidence in informal institutions one of which being godfatherism. Although the origin of godfatherism can be located in the history of Ibadan, its reaffirmation is explainable through the seminal work of Lucas (1998). The use of despotic measures by the military regimes of Ibrahim Babangida and Sani Abacha to ban many old politicians without following up with a proper restructuring of the polity created a political class without any normative principle nor reliance on the electorate for political ascendancy.
1.8. DEFINITION OF TERMS
Godfather:a man who is influential in a movement or organization, through providing support for it or through playing a leading or innovatory part in it.
Godfatherism:In political environment, it is meant to be a relationship existing between the political guardian who have a long experience of politics and a neophyte aspiring for government job.
Politics:the activities associated with the governance of a country or other area, especially the debate or conflict among individuals or parties having or hoping to achieve power.
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