Godfatherism: The Bane Of Nigeria politics

INTRODUCTION:

Democracy by Abraham Lincoln is generally defined as the government of the people, by the people and for the people.One of the characteristics of democracy is periodic election where candidate are elected into office for a period of time through casting of votes.

However, since the inception practice of democracy in Nigeria, her elections have been punctured by different forms of electoral malpractice.Worst still is the issue of godfatherism in politics.Undoubtedly, this has done great harm to the Nigerian political system and as such, Nigeria is stuck in the mud of underdevelopment. It is the aim of this essay to make a study of the issue of Godfatherism with its catastrophic effects in Nigerian politics and finally proffering solution that can arrest this activity.

GODFATHER AND GODFATHERISM

The term godfather has achieved several meanings and usage in our time.Generelly, the term is used to refer to any man who acts as an advisor or mentor to someone.In religious settings, it is a man who serves as a sponsor for a child at baptism. It is also used to address any person having much influence or authority in some area.

From this conception, it infiltrated into the political world and has remained dominant for a long time.Godfatherism is generally defined as the act or situation whereby men or women have the power and influence to personally determine both who get nominated to contest elections and who wins the election conducted. They are political sponsors, who use money and influence to win support for their preferred candidates. Their godsons, it is believed are not always selected for their political acumen, rather on their ability to repay and enrich their godfather. It is this act of having godfathers in politics that we refer to as godfatherism.

GODFATHERISM IN NIGERIAN POLITICS

The action of political godfathers was obvious with the coming of civilian rule in 1979. It is an ideology which deprives the people of their fundamental human right of not benefiting from the dividends of democracy. Instances of godfatherism in Nigeria include the agreement and subsequent fallout between Chris Uba (godfather) and the then governor of Anambra state (Chris Ngige) after an unsuccessful attempt on 10 July, 2003 to have him removed from office. In the last election, we also saw the unrelenting effort of the then incumbent governor of imo state Rochas Okorocha who tried everything humanly possible to impose his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, as the next governor, Another is the implantation of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu as the governor of Abia state by the past governor T.A Orji.

EFFECTS OF GODFATHERISM IN NIGERIA POLITICS

Godfatherism is a very disastrous phenomenon that has taken over Nigerian politics. Its effects on citizens are enormous and they include the following (1) Infringement on the rights of citizens to elect their desired candidate through free and fair elections (2) It brings about lack of growth and development because the leaders are installed by godfathers who have selfish demands and ambitions (3) Because of the activities of godfatherism, genuinely aspiring for political office have become cumbersome ranging from internal politics at the primary level to become the party's flag bearer down to the actual contesting for elections.

GODFATHERISM: THE BANE OF NIGERIAN POLITICS

Godfatherism has affected the political and economic development of Nigeria.The system of godfatherism in Nigerian politics is creating an impression in upcoming politician that politics is based on selfishness and it is grooming them in the mindset that to be a strong politician, you will need a godfather.Godfathers in the Nigerian politics build an array of loyalties around them and use their influence to block the participation of other in Nigerian politics. They are political gatekeeper; they dictate who participates in politics and under what conditions; thereby being in office while out of office. It is an indubitable fact that the positions won because of the influence of godfathers cannot yield positive development. Hence more often than none, godsons are mandated to sign treaties of their loyalty and agreements with their godfathers.

SOLUTION TO GODFATHERISM IN NIGERIA

Godfatherism robs the citizens of their essential right to determine those who would represent them in offices.Therefore the problem of godfatherism should then not be preserved as a party affair but should treated with legal action by the government and the party stakeholders. Strict laws should be made to forbid this ugly practice and any politician who goes against the law should be apprehended. Citizens should stand on their rights and fight against corruption of awareness program where citizens are made to understand that politics in Nigeria should be seen as a civil engagement and not an enterprise or game.Power is not a family thing or a thing for particular sets of people.They should be educated to desist from being bought to help accelerate different activities of godfathers.

CONCLUSION

It is a truism that part of the reason for the pitiable state of things in Nigeria is because of the activities of godfatherism in Nigerian politics. They satisfy their selfish interests without considering the plight of the citizens.Sadly , most citizens help them achieve their ambitions because of either money, material gifts or appointments. It is time to make things right. There is a clarion call for all to help curb the dominance of godfatherism in Nigerian politics especially as we anticipate the next election come this year. May God help us.