TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title
Certification
Dedication
Acknowledgment
Table of Contents
Abstract
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
Background
of the Study
Statement of the Problem
Research Questions
Purpose of the Study
Significance of the Study
Delimitation of the Study
Limitation of the Study
Definition of Terms
CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Characteristics of Godfathers
Politics of Godfathers
(Kingmakers)
Nigerian’s
Godfather’s
Effect of
Godfather’s Activities
Socio-Economic Cost
Government and Politics
The Role of Civil Education in Democracy
Essential
Components of Good Civil Education in Democracy
Civil Knowledge
Civil Skills, Intellectual and Participatory
CHAPTER THREE: METHOD OF THE STUDY
The
Research Design
Population
Sample and Sampling Techniques
Instrumentation
Questionnaire
Validity of the Instrument
Reliability of Instrument
Method of Data Collection
The Interview Method
Method of Data Analysis
CHAPTER
FOUR: ANALYSIS OF DATA AND
DISCUSSION
Analysis of Data
Discussion
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY,
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary
Conclusion
Recommendations
Bibliography
Appendix
ABSTRACT
The discourse of godfatherism had so much influenced
the socio-economic and political life of the nation especially in the fourth
republic. It had gained much attention at the present time as a result of its
need forms of articulation. It has become almost impossible for an individual
to hold political office either by appointment or election without patronizing
a godfather because of their power and influence. In the light of this, this
long essay critically examined how poverty, ignorance and corruption
contributed to the emergence of godfatherism and the role of the godfathers in
carrying out their biding such as, arson, maiming, bribing, abduction and all
kings of corrupt styles in other to win elections for their selfish enrich. The
study also examined the consequences of this in the fourth republic.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1. Background of the Study
The concept of godfatherism is firmly establishing
itself as a guiding principle in contemporary Nigeria politics. Godfathers are
generally defined as men who have the power personally to determine both who
gets nominated to contest elections and who wins in the election.
In the past, Nigerian society had fewer criminals that
the judicial systems attempted to contend with in recent times, our judicial
systems cannot contend with such because Nigerian society is building criminals
at rapid pales in the late 20th and early 21st centuries
through democratization and militarization practices, when the governing
systems failed to deliver the other takes over. In democracy one way that
regime is breeding criminals is through godfather’s, godfatherims is old
fashion enterprise that circulates around nation with different names or
headings for centuries. Godfathers in Nigeria is a topic that has not been
given enough attention until recent coup that exposed Chief Chris Uba,
estranged political Godfather of Chief Dr. Chris Ngige among political
criminals that is behind elections or selection of most of our state governors
and other law makers. Apparently it appears majority of our state governors are
financed by such caliber of person and for those financed by their godfathers
get into offices now have huge power in respective states. They assigned civil
services and or political positions to who are not of the people but people of
the privates.
The role of education in politics cannot be over
emphasized. To be effective, civil education must be realistic, it must address
the central truth about political life. The American Political Science
Association (A.P.S.A) recently formed a task force on Civil Education. Its
statement of purpose calls for more realistic teaching about the nature of
political life and a better understanding of “the complex elements of the art
of the possible”. The A.P.S.A. reports faults existing civil education because
all too often it seems unable to counter the belief that in politics, one
either wins or loses, and to win; means getting everything at once, now. The
sense that politics can always bring another chance to be heard to persuade and
perhaps to gain part of what one wants, is lost, political education today
seems unable to teach the civil engagement the slow patient building of first
coalitions and then majorities can generate social change (Carter &
Elshtan, 1997).
A message of importance therefore is not politics need
not, indeed must not, be a zero, sum game. The idea that “winner takes all” has
no place in a democracy because if losers lose all they will opt out of the
democratic game. Sharing is essential in a democratic society, the sharing of
power, of resources and of responsibilities. Those skills and the will or
necessary trait of private and public characters are the products of a good
civil election.
Statement of the
Problem
Should money and influence be the only determinant of
an election in Nigeria
political content?
Must politician join any confraternity or go into
feeble and illegal agreement with powerful rich mobile Nigeria before they could contest
for an elections?
God fatherism and politics will not bring about
significant growth/development economically, socially and politically.
The doctrine of separation of power and the theory of
rule of law is not best assured.
The fundamental human right is well protested as
stipulated by the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.
Research Questions
The following research questions were raised to guide
the study.
What patterns do godfatherism take in Nigeria political system?
What factors promote godfatherism in Nigerian political
system?
What are the general effects of god fatherism in
politics in Nigeria?
How does education influence Nigerian politics and
politicians in relation to godfatherism?
Purpose of the
Study
The purpose of the study is to investigate the concept
of God fatherism, how it influences Nigeria
politics and politician and the role of education in Nigeria. How godfatherism is firmly
and deeply principle in contemporary Nigeria policies.
This study also examined the role of education in Nigeria
politics. How civic education in a democracy is educating government.
Significance of the
Study
Significance of this study is to investigate the
concept (God fatherism) how it influences Nigeria
politics and politicians and the role of education in Nigeria politic
e.g.
1.
Law makers
2.
Policy formulators
3.
The judiciary
Delimitation of the
Study
This study will be focused mainly on the influence of
godfatherism in Nigeria
and politics in the fourth republic. The role of education basically.
Limitation of the
Study
The research was limited only on Anambra
State, which is representing the 36
state in Nigeria.
Finance was also an obstacle in the process of carrying
out the research.
Finally, take ability of responses is another
limitation of this study.
Definition of Terms
God father can be seen as man who promise to help a
child.
God fathers is also the head of illegal organization
especially the mafia.
Politics – in many other academic follows, especially
within the umbrella of the social sciences there are many different opinions
about what politics is. There is hardly any generally accepted definition of
politics. This does not however suggest that politics has no definition.
“Politics” refers to the events that happened around
the decision making centres of government.
Politics can also be seen as the struggle for political
power and the use of that power for the acquisition of other value power is
therefore the central focus of politics.
Education – can be seen as the total process of human
learning by which knowledge imparted, facilities trained and skill developed.