Impact of Godfatherism on Nigeria politics from 1999-2015 (A CASE STUDY OF OYO STATE)

86 PAGES (14705 WORDS) Political Science Project

ABSTRACT    

Godfatherism as a phenomenon is one of the dominant features of contemporary politics. It is an ideology which deprives the people of their fundamental human rights of not benefiting from the dividends of democracy. The transition from military rule to democracy in the fourth republic in Nigeria rekindled the hope of Nigerians after over three decades of militarization of Nigerian state characterized with high rate of impunity, corruption, oppression and insecurity. However, the democratic rule in the fourth republic has been characterized with godfatherism and party politics which has weakened Nigeria democratic institutions.   Political godfatherism is one of the factors that embedded democratic setting in Nigeria   since   the   first   republic.   In   view   of   this,   this   research   work   is   primarily designed to examine the impact of godfatherism on Nigeria politics from 1999-2015 with special attention on Oyo State. The researcher obtained data from both primary and secondary sources while data obtained were analyzed using simple percentage method and the statistical method of Pearson correlation co-efficient.   The research found out that godfatherism has significant impact on Nigeria politics.It   also   found   out   that   there   is   a   correlation   between   godfatherism   and   good governance, godfatherism has a lot of influence on the kind of government that will be run in a state which has made some government to be in disarray because conflict arises a times between godfather and godson and it has become one of the greatest problems facing the Nigeria political system.

The research however concluded that godfatherism has been the bane of Nigeria democratic   system   and   therefore   recommended   that   all   the   tiers   of   government(federal, state and local) should proscribe and outlaw godfatherism in Nigeria politics.


TABLE OF CONTENT

Title page i

Certification ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgement iv

Table of content vi

Abstract ix

Chapter One: Introduction

1.1 Background of the study 1-6

1.2 Statement of the problem 6-7

1.3 Research question 8

1.4 Objectives of the study 8

1.5 Research hypothesis 9

1.6 Significance of the study 9

1.7 Scope of the study 10

1.8 Organization of the study 10

1.9 Definition of terms 11

Chapter Two: Literature Review

2.0 Introduction 12

2.1 Theoretical framework 12
2.1.1 Elite Theory 12
2.1.2 Theory Of The Mitchelian “Iron Law Of Oligarchy” 13-14
2.2 Review of Empirical Literatures 14-15
2.2.2 Godfatherism in the politics of Nigeria 15-20 
2.2.3 Manifestations of godfatherism in Nigeria politics 20-23
2.2.4 Political godfathers: Their attributes and activities 23-28
2.2.5 Political youths (thugs) and the fourth republic in Oyo State 29-33
2.2.6 The context of godfather-godson conflicts in Nigeria 33-35
2.2.7 Consequence of godfatherism to Nigeria government 35-39
Chapter Three: Research Methodology and Design
3.0 Introduction 40
3.1 Research design 40
3.2 Sources of data 41
3.3 Population of the study 41
3.4 Sampling size and procedure 41
3.5 Data collection techniques and sources
3.6 Method of data analysis 42
Chapter Four: Data Analysis and Presentation of Result
4.0 Introduction 43
4.1 Socio-economic characteristics of respondents 43-55
4.2 Research hypothesis 56-59
4.3 Discussion of findings 59-61
Chapter Five: Summary, conclusions and Recommendations
5.0 Introduction 62
5.1 Summary 62-64
5.2 Conclusions 64-67
5.3 Recommendations 67-69
BIBLIOGRAPHY 70-75
APPENDIX 76-