Corruption, Governance and Political Instability in Nigeria: A Dysfunctional Conundrum | Chapter 06 | Current Research in Education and Social Studies Vol. 1
The Nigerian State is a victim of
high-level corruption, bad governance, political instability and a cyclical
legitimacy crisis. Consequently, national development is retarded, and the
political environment uncertain. The country’s authoritarian leadership faced a
legitimacy crisis, political intrigues, in an ethnically - differentiated
polity, where ethnic competition for resources drove much of the pervasive
corruption and profligacy. While the political gladiators constantly
manipulated the people and the political processes to advance their own selfish
agenda, the society remained pauperized, and the people wallowed in abject
poverty. This invariably led to weak legitimacy, as the citizens lacked faith
in their political leaders and by extension, the political system.
Participation in government was low because citizens perceived it as irrelevant
to their lives. In the absence of support from civil society, the effective
power of government was eroded. Patron - client relationships took a prime role
over the formal aspects of politics, such as the rule of law, well-functioning
political parties, and a credible electoral system. In order to break this
cycle and ensure good governance, accountability and transparency must be
guaranteed.
Author(s) Details
Omololu
Fagbadebo
Department
of Public Management and Economics, Durban University of Technology, Durban,
South Africa.
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