GOD-FATHERISM AND GOVERNANCE IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The impact of the godfathers on Nigeria’s general elections was unprecedented. Its contemporary manifestations suggest that it has assumed epidemic proportions, becoming one of the greatest threats to democratic consolidation in Nigeria. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of godfatherism on governance in Nigeria. The study adopted descriptive survey research design type as the information collected from the participants (Political science lecturers) were used for the purpose of predicting, describing and interpreting the subject matter. The population consists of some selected Political science lecturers in twenty (20) purposively selected tertiary institutions in South West, Nigeria making a total of One hundred (100) respondents. The main instrument for data collection is a self-structured questionnaire based on the two (2) research objectives raised in the study. The data collected from the respondents was analysed using Chi-square statistical tool at 0.05 alpha level. To ensure the validity of the instrument, the researcher gave the draft of the questionnaire to the experts in Test and Measurement to restructure the instrument in line with the research objectives. To determine the reliability of the instrument, a pilot test was conducted, the scores were tabulated, the Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient formula was applied and a correlation coefficient of 0.852 was obtained. Findings from the study revealed that there is significant relationship between godfatherism and governance in Nigeria and there is significant impact of godfatherism on governance in Nigeria. The study concludes that Nigerian political leaders should concern themselves with the welfare and interest of people, which is assumed to be the necessary and sufficient condition of governance and its legitimacy. The study recommends that there is need to reform electoral laws in Nigeria until it can measure to the yearning of Nigerians in such a way that it will discourage godfatherism in electoral process of our political office holders. Also the researcher recommends that Nigerian electoral laws should be reformed to mitigate the funding of political parties and their candidates by individuals and corporate organizations.