GODFATHERISM AND ELITE POLITICS: A REORIENTATION TO DEMOCRATIC SUSTAINABILITY FOR NIGERIA

Abstract

The problem that is closely associated with godfatherismis that it does not revolve around ethical considerations and democratic sustainability. Nigeria is bedeviled by the problems of godfatherism, elite politics, corruption, tribal sentiment, monetized politics, political assassination, political thuggery, and religious bigotry or Islamic fundamentalism. Godfatherism has become a cankerworm that has eaten deep in Nigeria. The objective of this paper is that the concept of godfatherism has both positive and negative implications; and that godfatherism and elite politics serve as impediments to Nigeria’s quest for national development, democratic sustainability and accountability. Godfatherism has paved the way for political irresponsibility and poor leadership structure. Many Nigerian representatives have become very corrupt and they have plunged the country into serious economic hardship and poor socio-political and economic insecurity. This paper adopts the analytical framework and hermeneutical methodology in discussing the inextricable nexus between godfatherism and elite politics in Nigeria. Findings, however, show that one of the serious implications of the evils of godfatherismis that it has resulted in socio-economic, moral and political insecurity. Today’s Nigerian society has been bastardized and balkanized by the evils of elite politics, corruption and godfatherism. If necessary steps are not taken Nigeria’s quest for democratic sustainability and national development would only be a mirage. This paper concludes that godfatherism remains one of the problems of the evils of kleptocratic practices and it has posed a serious challenge to Nigeria. This paper, however, recommends that the godfathers should portray an advisory role in Nigeria