THE CONCEPT OF GOD-FATHERISM AND ITS INFLUENCE ON NIGERIAN POLITICS AND POLITICIANS (DELTA STATE)

THE CONCEPT OF GOD-FATHERISM AND ITS INFLUENCE ON NIGERIAN POLITICS AND POLITICIANS

Abstract

This study was carried out to examine the concept of god-fatherism and its influence on Nigeria politics and politician. There has been a lot of crises in Nigerian politics and Administration - a crisis of confidence in our elected officials, a lost of faith in our democratic government and an increasing frustration at government, and more also, an increasing frustration at the irrelevance of individual’s vote in our political process. All these crises are crises caused by the unholy alliance of godfatherism (Ikejiani, 2006). This study is an appraisal of godfatherism in Nigerian politics and administration with reference to the problems which includes – creating a political process in which vested interest predominate, and the public interest is forgotten and influencing the outcome of public policies to the interest of few (godfathers) and to the detriment of the Nigerian populace. This study recommends that if godfatherism must be stamped out of our political and administrative systems, corruptive tendencies which increases the financial base of the godfathers by creating a wide range of problems in our politics and administration must be tackled head-on because they use such moneys to place their godsons and protégés in various positions of government.  The study concluded that there is the need for an increased confidence in the duly elected officials and also increase faith in the democratization process.  Electorates should be allowed to vote for their preferred candidates during elections without intimidation by political thugs who are part of the instruments of godfatherism.