IMPLICATIONS OF GODFATHERISM ON NATIONAL STABILITY AND DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA.

This paper discusses the role of political godfatherism in Nigeria politics. The paper focuses on the Implications of godfatherism on National stability and development In Nigeria. Study has shown that godfatherism is part of Nigeria political history. There has been a lot of crises in Nigerian politics and Administration - a crisis of confidence in our elected officials, a lost of faith in our democratic government and an increasing frustration at government, and more also, an increasing frustration at the irrelevance of individual's vote in our political process. All these crises are crises caused by the unholy alliance of godfatherism. Seen in this light, it means that a political godfather will be ready to place his material and political resources at the behest of a neophyte seeking public office in so far as he expects or believes that such 'benevolence' will yield economic dividends if the latter wins in an election. The researchers adopted quantitative method to carry out this study. One hundred and eighty (180) structured copies of questionnaires were distributed through online platforms such as emails, social media platforms and relevant online platforms to the respondents. The study revealed that 90% of the respondents are aware of godfatherism in Nigerian politics while 10% are not aware. From the survey, 60.56% of the respondents agreed that godfatherism affects National stability in Nigeria, 34.44% agreed that it affects it moderately, 3.89% agreed that it only affects it a little and 1.11% believed it does not affect National stability. The results shows that 56.67% of the respondents strongly agreed that godfatherism contributes to corruption and embezzlement of public funds, 38.33% agreed, 5% disagreed, while 0% strongly disagreed. The study recommends that the outrageous and intimidating amount of money that are charged on nomination of interest forms by political parties should be reduced to such a paltry amount that an average citizen can afford. In this case the temptation to build alliance with political godfathers who will finance them and dictate the affairs of an entire political system throughout their stay in office will not arise. The study further prescribes that political godfatherism should be criminalized and disbanded out rightly. This is because it is criminal and illegal in the way and manner in which it is practiced Nigeria. ​Keywords: Crisis, Neophyte, Alliance, Benevolence, Embezzlemen.