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Political Corruption and National Development in Nigeria

Egharevba, M. E. and Chiazor, A.I. (2013) Political Corruption and National Development in Nigeria. International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Review, 4 (1).

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Abstract

This paper argued that the emergence of democracy in Sub-Saharan Africa is rooted in socioeconomic grievances and demand for better standards of living expressed by the people against obnoxious regimes - colonialism, military or civilian. Besides, the form of economic system, internal misrule, the complicity of western governments, development donors and creditors (such as IMF and World Bank) have also influenced the process of democratization and governance in particular directions generating serious implications for the continent's overall development. Thus, since 1999, the expectation of the people of Nigeria that the return to civilian administration would create platform for them to savour the dividends of democracy have not being met. This is particularly so given the high jacking of the processes of political competition and elections by the elite and the middle class who exploit it for their selfish benefits rather than for economic redistribution of resources and improving the quality of life of the citizenry. This realism explains the fact that twelve years into civilian rule, massive corruption, absence of political openness, transparency, accountability, electoral rigging, god-fatherism etc holds sway in the polity, coupled with huge incidence of poverty, inequality, unemployment and poor social infrastructure. The paper interrogates the subject of political corruption and national development in Nigeria through the prism of clientelism, prebendal ism and patrimonial ism, in espousing the bane of continuing underdevelopment in the Nigerian society. The paper concludes on the premise that political corruption will be fought headlong when we create political stntctures where the economic and political rights of the people are justiceable; create an environment where the citizenry can define the kind and type of political change they really desire rather than the one that are foist on them.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Political Corruption, Welfare, Economic Rights and Development.
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HM Sociology
Divisions: Faculty of Law, Arts and Social Sciences > School of Humanities
Depositing User: Mrs Patricia Nwokealisi
Date Deposited: 04 Mar 2015 13:02
Last Modified: 04 Mar 2015 13:02
URI: http://eprints.covenantuniversity.edu.ng/id/eprint/3670

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