DETERMINANTS AND IMPACTS OF POLITICS OF GODFATHERISM AND REGIONALISM IN THE YOBE STATE

Abstract

The politics of godfatherism and regionalism has become a phenomenon in the political development of many nations Nigeria inclusive. The paper examined the determinants and impacts of the politics of godson and regionalism in Yobe state. Indeed, the politics of godson or the elites have entered every hook and crannies of the state and have affected the political arrangement of the political system. The paper is qualitative in nature, data were generated from secondary sources where several related articles, newspapers, magazines, books were consulted, etc. In explaining the topic under study, the researcher adopted the Elite theory. This theory was propounded by Vilfredo Pareto in 1935, the postulation of the theory is that elites could only be replaced by another set of elites, meaning that the majority are unavoidably governed by the minority. The study found that the politics of godfatherism courses and affect the political development of the Yobe state by restricting power in the hands of the few, in a specific geopolitical zone of the state. This has led to inter-party and intra-party defections, decamping, and conflicts among the party members. Therefore, the study recommends the adoption of the direct primary election in the chosen candidates in all levels of governance. INEC should also make a law that will discourage money politics and punish the culprit involved in such an illegal act. To minimize the politics of Godfatherism, there is a need for political awareness campaigns on the effects of political godson on the political development of the state.