Effect of Political Godfatherism on Nigeria Politics: A Case Study of Karu Lga of Nasarawa State

Abstract

This paper discusses the role of political godfatherism in Nigeria politics. The paper focuses on the emergence of political godfatherism and its effects on dividend of democracy. Study has shown that godfatheism is part of Nigeria political history. In Hausa society it is a common place to hear people referring to political godfathers as ‘maigidi’’ and ‘’baba isale’’. The Igbo people call godfather as ‘Nnam-Ukwu’. These are palpable testament to the fact that political godfatherism is part of the cultural fabric of Nigeria politics. This work is anchored on expectancy theory of Victor Vroom which is also called Valence- expectancy theory which is used to explain the action of political godfathers in the country. According to him, individuals are motivated to perform certain actions to achieve certain goals if they know or expect that such actions will help them attain the desired goals. Seen in this light, it means that a political godfather will be ready to place his material and political resources at the behest of a neophyte seeking public office in so far as he expects or believes that such ‘benevolence’ will yield economic dividends if the latter wins in an election. The researchers adopted quantitative method to carry out this study. One hundred and fifty structured copies of questionnaires were printed and distributed to the research participants. Out of which 100 were correctly filled and retuned. The study has been able to establish that the people of Karu LGA of Nasarawa State are aware of the activities of political godfatherism. This is so as 54% of the research participants affirmed so. The study further demonstrated that the phenomenon of political godfatherism is a progeny of corruption, poverty, lack of voters’ education and military influence. This is so as 30 % of the respondents affirmed so. The study recommends that the outrageous and intimidating amount of money that are charged on nomination of interest forms by political parties should be reduced to such a paltry amount that an average citizen can afford. In this case the temptation to build alliance with political godfathers who will finance them and dictate the affairs of an entire political system throughout their stay in office will not arise. The study further prescribes that political godfatherism should be criminalized and disbanded out rightly. This is because it is criminal and illegal in the way and manner in which it is practiced Nigeria.