₦airaland Forum

Abuklaw:
obiZEAL

referencing this explanation of Godfather, don't do you think godfatherism should be reformed not removed?

You are making it seem godfatherism is peculiar to Nigeria. The role Bill Clinton played in the emergence of Barack Obama shouldn't be undermined. Godfatherism is practised through out the world. It only takes effective and rational thinking godsons integrity to neutralise the threats from godfathers.

In my definition of Godfatherism, I was referring to an Ideal situation and not no what is obtainable in Nigeria.

Godfatherism is not peculiar to Nigeria, but its negatives is peculiar to Nigeria ( and other underdeveloped countries).
Nigerian Politics is more complex and shady than that of the US, Nigeria needs immediate and massive help, and we can't afford the luxury of Godfatherism and hence it should be discontinued.

Sir Abuklaw, I greet you.


You spoke extensively about how dishonesty and incompetence is to be blamed for Nigeria's problems, I can't agree more, but my point is that those bad leaders where/are always brought in by the influence of their Godfathers who are often very influential. You will agree with me that if Godfatherism is extinguished and all contestants are given an equal platform, the electorate will surely make the tight decision.
I was elated when you mentioned the drama that played out in Oyo state, we all witnessed the tussle that followed Ladoja's refusal, that one one of the negative effect of Godfatherism and how it renders credible men ineffective, the case of Oyo state is one of the principal reasons why Godfatherism should be eliminated.
You also mentioned cases of healthy Godfatherism that was obtainable in the 1st and 2nd republic, but you never mentioned any healthy relationship of Godfatherism in the 4th republic... And that is because there isn't.
I maintain my stand, the extinction of Godfatherism will see Nigeria soar to Greater heights.

Mr. Catalyst4real, goodevening.
In Life, especially in politics, we judge people by their deeds and not their intentions, In the early part of your debate you said Godfathers have good intentions for our polity, but the situation inherent in our country Nigerias suggest differently, we have seen Godfathers lay claim on the treasuries of their godson's office and that is not compatible with effective leadership.
Sir, you also said you don't see Godfatherism standing in the way of installing credible leadership, I beg to disagree and I will do that by referring you to my debate where I outlined cases of Godfatherism, the general trend in nigeria is; the man with the most influential Godfather gets elected...so you can't say Godfatherism don't influence the installation of leaders.
And Lastly you spoke much about an ideal situation, but we are talking about the real situation that is obtainable in Nigeria as directed by the debate topic, so your whole argument is to an extent flawed and does not apply to the Nigerian situation.
The way forward for Nigeria, is to, among other reforms, extinguish political Godfatherism.

It was Abraham Lincoln who defined democracy as a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.
Many scholars have opined that democracy is the best form of government, I can't agree less since democracy is being practiced by about 153 countries in the world, including world powers like United states of America, France, Russia. However, over here in Nigeria we have been practicing democracy for 17 years now, but we have not seen effective leaders who will provide the dividends of democracy to Nigerians. The reason for this unfortunate situation is not far-fetched; it is Political Godfatherism that has made our leaders ineffective and our democracy inefficient. Hence the extinction of political Godfatherism in contemporary Nigerian politics is the panacea to producing effective leaders and ensuring efficient leadership


Good evening respectable judges, hardworking coordinators, my fellow opponents and all Nairaland intelligentsia following this debate. As always, my profound appreciation goes to Mr. Seun Osewa for the platform and opportunity to engage our contemporaries in this intellectual tussle.
My name is obiZEAL and I am representing the distinguished students of University of Jos, I and my colleague are supporting the motion which says; the extinction of Godfatherism in contemporary Nigerian politics; A panacea for effective leaders.


I will start my first argument by giving a succinct definition of godfather and Godfatherism;
In Christendom, a godfather is defined as a man present at the christening of a baby who promises to help raise the child in a Christian manner and is responsible for the child’s spiritual needs and growth.
Godfatherism on the other hand, is the relationship that exists between the godfather and the child. In the Nigerian politicosphere, Godfatherism have been bastardized and eroded of its actual meaning. The best definition of the Godfatherism being practiced in Nigeria’s political arena is as defined by one of Nigeria's renowned novelist and poet, Chinua Achebe, he defined Godfatherism as ''an archaic, corrupt practice in which individuals with lots of money and time to spare (many of them half-baked, poorly educated thugs) sponsor their chosen candidates and push them right through to the desired political position, bribing, threatening, and, on occasion, murdering any opposition in the process. Needless to say, anybody brought into any leadership position through any such means that undermines democracy in a democratic country cannot make an effective leader. Deep study of the definition provided by Chinua Achebe will show that not only does political Godfatherism sabotage democracy, it also disqualifies honorable men who almost always make effective leaders. No man of good moral standing will take part is such a process, when upright men rejects Godfatherism and its antecedents, all that will be left are men who will fall for anything, and with the influence of their godfather, these morally bankrupt men make it to the position of power, and as expected, they will constitute ineffective leaders.


Secondly, if Godfatherism was an illness one of its symptoms will be corruption, and like all diseases if left untreated will lead to death, but in this case, it will lead to death of effective leadership. In Nigerian politics, Godfatherism goes beyond the electioneering process, godson's are expected to show unwavering loyalty to their godfathers throughout their tenure. These loyalty has no definition nor limit, the godfather is at liberty to decides who gets what, he decides who is innocent and who is guilty, in some cases the godson even go as far as diverting the finance of his office to the pocket of the godfather and his cronies under the guise of phantom projects and contracts. These acts of nepotism, selective justice and financial mismanagement are all features of an ineffective leader, they are acts of corruption which blossoms under Godfatherism.
My opponents might want to argue that godfathers only play a financial or advisory role, but we are all aware of the common Nigerian idiom; nothing goes for nothing, it is he who plays the drum that dictates the dance moves.



I will end with giving a short account of Godfatherism gone wrong and how it has rendered leadership ineffective; Chief Chris Ubah and Chris Ngige of Anambara state, Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu and Rashidi Ladoja of Oyo state, Alhaji Abubakar Rimi and Rabiu Kwankwaso of kano state, Senator Modu Ali sheriff and Governor Mala Kachalla of Borno State, Senator Jim Nwobodo and Governor Chimaroke Nnamani of Enugu State, Sir Emeka Offor and Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju of Anambara state. These names are synonymous to Godfatherism in Nigerian politics, the events that took place in each of the situation is unique, but all the situation occurred by the same mechanism; a disagreement between a Godfather and a Godson which yielded anarchy in the affected states.
To prove my point, I will do a brief run-down of the events that took place in Anambra state, one of the states that have had its own fair share of ineffective leadership which stemmed from Godfatherism, During the 1999 election, Sir Emeka Offor played the role of Governor Mbadinuju’s godfather and elevated him into office, after a brief period of Mbadinuju’s rule, he incurred the wrath of his Godfather for not ‘playing by the rules’ and as expected a political battle ensued between the erstwhile Godfather and the state Governor, during that period, workers salaries where owed for months, state institutions went on strike, and all the trappings of a failed leadership was in full display, consequently the governor was given an Ultimatum to resign or put the state in order.
The events that occurred in Anambra state have repeated itself in various levels of leadership in our country Nigeria, hence our slowed level of development.
It is for the reasons given above and many more that I stand to say that the extinction of Godfatherism in contemporary Nigerian politics is the panacea for engendering effective leadership.




REFERENCES
A short definition of democracy
http:www.democracy-building.info/definition-democracy.html

Which countries are democratic as at April 2015
http:www.quora.com/Which-countries-are-democratic-countries-as-of-April-2015-and-which are democratic-in-name-only

There Was A Country A Personal History of Biafra; Chinua Achebe, 2012. ISBN:978-1-846-14792-0

Politics and political Godfatherism by Samuel Uwhejevwe-Togbolo
http:www.gamji.com/article4000/NEWS4468.htm

Criminal Politics: violence, “Godfathers” and Curruption in Nigeria: Case Study B: Anambra State
https://www.hrw.org/reporths/2007/nigeria1007/8.htm

Fynestboi:
Jarus

Adeaks


Joseph1832



► Noskyboy
► ObiZeal


►Catalyst4real
► Abuklaw




New date: 12 March
Time 6pm..



Any questions?

Mehn e go hard small o...Jossites will be commencing exams on the 14th.
Let's hear from noskyboy and team ABU sha...

ajayi01ibrahim:
[size=15pt]
Okay for anyone who cares to check www.cenbank.org/

I for one is still sceptical about the stability of oil price but really for any right thinking NL'nder these figures are not bad

1$ : #197
Oil : $32.89
Inflation : 9.62
8miilion dollar increase external reserve.

Although this means nothing if can't be sustained.
The tricks working here are just
1. transparency
2. Policy sustenance
3. On-time Information
No hassle no tussle. Way to go on Agriculture sha .
[/size]

Sir, this figures means nothing to me....pure water is now 10 naira, thats the only statistic the man on the street understands.

iamord:
This is a low budget that's y. Something for the streetz

Lolz....do they think the street is dumb ni!!!

Anybody that believes this act is a biggg fool...
Tb Joshua and Oyedepo have better actors now...

Venue: Jos Township Stadium
Time: 4pm

No thread for today's match
...GiwavFC vs FC Ifeanyi Ubah

tripplephi:
When you get tired or angry to hear the word of God even from the mouth of a ass-like preacher just know that you have stamped your own destruction. ONLY FOOLS EXPECT GOD TO UNDERSTAND. OP it's like you do not know that jesting about serious issues is a sin. Don't let them bring up this pix on your judgement day. Na play play people dey use enter Hell o.

and I guess public disturbance and extortion is not a sin abi...if I want to hear someone preach to me I will go to a church and not a bus park...and if this pic annoys the people that are doing the judgement more than the pic of malnourished IDPs, then I don't think they not are worthy to judge anybody.

...and they will always end with 'sow a seed...no amount is too small'

No body

No body

luxanne:
Abuklaw
Catalyst4real
ObiZEAL
Noskyboy

Hello,

I need to know if we are OK with the chosen date for the debate - that is, next week Saturday, the 27th of February.

'Cuz the thread needs to be opened by the weekend.

Thanks.

We are OK with the date and time.

Oga me and my PVC will stop you!

...it really feels good...
Shout out to fynestboi, luxanne, amina508 and all the other coodinators for their daily sacrifices towards the success of NSID...and to my fellow JOSITES; noskyboi, beautiful80, perfecter4real and Puffy joe ...maaad love.
And to menzo4u and betacitizen ....we all did well

obiZEAL:
If this happens to me there will be problem o...

fynestboi and lalasticala when will this hit front page

TrollTrap:
To be honest I'd rather I woke up in primary 6..... So many things to amend

But then I might not meet my current babes

primary 6
Ur own baaad o

K9Uneet:
Its not a laughing matter, dude. True story. I nearly gave up on life. That experience still haunts me.

gave up on life
This is serious...

espionagesavvy:
1. I won't get married to my wife.
2. I would do medicine instead of dentistry.
3. I won't work so hard in life, success is not by hardwork as I was made to believe.
4. I would copy someone's assignment..

make ur wife no see this comment o

LastMumu:
Wake up to find myself in Ss2? WTF! I'd rather just die. I was the dullest kid back then in school and every session back to back, I was always carrying last!

There was even a year in ss3 when I managed to score - 2/100 over hundred in Mathematics. The - 2 score was a punishment I got from our exam invigilator for making noise in the exam Hall!

lolz...this one is strong

GoldenJulius:
i will be so happy, i will be very wise with all my decision.
I will be happy to be with crush Jumoke in SS2

u no get problem

horlarkoonlay:
So,u bin wan tell me say CHANGE neva come?

...and Dasuki still d share the money...

iamayodeji:
It's pointless going through all those stress all over again. Pointless I say.

I might just drop out...

K9Uneet:
My brother, she really messed my life up.

Take heart bro..buh there are still angels out there if ur willing to try again.

Judeoxide:
men i will be angry and more of happy.. Because. So many lost family and friens will be alive and jos crises will not have happend... Mehn that will be a dream come through to us in the north

Yea...true sha... Terminus will still be standing tall and angwan rogo will not be a death sentence.

Missbizy:
Will be so happy that's like giving a second chance, all those regrets will be corrected!!!

Then all the stress of attendance and assignment will go in vain....mehn

Judeoxide:
Gaskia... You bad..

Then i will know that life is truly a nightmare

Then you go happy say last last u don wake up...

K9Uneet:
I go happy die.
I'll see it as a second chance/ second opportunity to make amends, because, truth be told I've made a lot of mistakes in life. But thank God for the life I'm living right now.
Then I'll learn NEVER to fall in love with any girl called Geraldine.

Those mistakes sha defines you...and for Geraldine, she should pray never to cross my path...or she will be in your shoes...