Money and Politics in Nigeria
MONEY AND POLITICS IN NIGERIA
Since the return to electoral politics in 1999, and particularly after the 2003 general elections, Nigeria 's political parties have been criticized by the media, academics, observers and the electorate for corrupt and unbridled use of money in politics. The anti-corruption initiatives of the administration of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo provided a suitable environment for some civil society groups to engage governments and other stakeholders on the issue of corruption and its effect on governance. There exists an awakened consciousness in Nigeria about the danger of political corruption including political finance malpractices. However, the question remains whether the rise in consciousness translates into new social values and attitudes for stakeholder’s government, election management bodies, political parties, civil society in the electoral process and in the way they interact with money and politics. Surveys conducted by IFES in 2007 reveal public perceptions on “Corruption in the realm of politics.” The report reveals that a majority of Nigerians think it is wrong for an ordinary person to sell a vote in return for goods or money. However, more than a third of the sampled population thinks it is understandable to do so. Furthermore, “most think it is wrong for political parties to offer money to people in return for their vote, but a third think it is understandable for them to do so. A quarter of Nigerian adults admit someone tried to offer them a reward or gift to vote for certain candidates in the election.” Today in Nigeria, money politics, vote buying, godfatherism and “share the money” are regular household phrases and slogans portraying moral decadence of politicians. These usages adequately describe rent-seeking behaviour of politicians, political parties and voters. Such practices include accepting bribes from patrons and distributing money to buy votes. This has implications for good governance processes, including
Since the return to electoral politics in 1999, and particularly after the 2003 general elections, Nigeria 's political parties have been criticized by the media, academics, observers and the electorate for corrupt and unbridled use of money in politics. The anti-corruption initiatives of the administration of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo provided a suitable environment for some civil society groups to engage governments and other stakeholders on the issue of corruption and its effect on governance. There exists an awakened consciousness in Nigeria about the danger of political corruption including political finance malpractices. However, the question remains whether the rise in consciousness translates into new social values and attitudes for stakeholder’s government, election management bodies, political parties, civil society in the electoral process and in the way they interact with money and politics. Surveys conducted by IFES in 2007 reveal public perceptions on “Corruption in the realm of politics.” The report reveals that a majority of Nigerians think it is wrong for an ordinary person to sell a vote in return for goods or money. However, more than a third of the sampled population thinks it is understandable to do so. Furthermore, “most think it is wrong for political parties to offer money to people in return for their vote, but a third think it is understandable for them to do so. A quarter of Nigerian adults admit someone tried to offer them a reward or gift to vote for certain candidates in the election.” Today in Nigeria, money politics, vote buying, godfatherism and “share the money” are regular household phrases and slogans portraying moral decadence of politicians. These usages adequately describe rent-seeking behaviour of politicians, political parties and voters. Such practices include accepting bribes from patrons and distributing money to buy votes. This has implications for good governance processes, including
References: Lip set, Seymour M. and Gabriel S. Lenz. 2000. 'Corruption, Culture and Markets ', in. Lawrence E. Harrison Samuel P Amartya. 1999. Development as Freedom. New York: Anchor Books. Tanzi, Vito. 1998. Corruption Around the World: Causes, Consequences, Scope, and Curses. IMF Working Walecki, Marcin n.d Dudely, Bill. 1973. Instability and Political Order: Politics and Crisis in Nigeria. Ibadan: Macmillan Press; Dudley, B