Godfatherism: Politics of Endorsement and Democratic Sustainability in Nigeria
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Abstract
The dynamics of godfatherism and its negative consequences on the democratic sustainability of Nigeria has long been a topical issue. This study explores the details of the practice of godfatherism in Nigeria’s politics and its effects on democratic sustainability. In this regard, the study’s aims were: to examine the causative factors orchestrating godfatherism and its implications in the country among other objectives of the study. The emergence of godfatherism in the Nigerian Fourth Republic poses a great threat to democratic dividends. The study also explores the concept of godfatherism, democracy and good governance. Although descriptive analysis was used to examine godfatherism: politics of endorsement and democratic sustainability. Findings revealed that although godfatherism is an age-long phenomenon in politics even in the advanced societies, but the damage godfatherism has caused to our fragile democracy is causing havoc. If godfatherism is to be encouraged the excesses of godfathers should be checkmated. The study recommends that our country needs a purposeful leadership that has a vision of how it places its citizens at the centre of political project; therefore, the politics of godfatherism should be discouraged and our democratic institution should be encouraged. The research work concludes that for effective functioning of governance in our democracy every must be ready to pay the price for good service in the face of transparency, accountability and intelligible governance system free from bias and prejudice.
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