The Political Culture of Good Governance, by Zubaida Baba Ibrahim

A lot of arguments have emerged over the length of time on the attitudes and beliefs that are capable of promoting and retaining good governance.

In my previous article titled ‘Beyond the Secessionists Agitation in Nigeria’ I explained   how marginalization, ignorance and poverty has fueled   a hate-filled fight for the breakaway of the different regions in Nigeria. Agreeably, issues stated above can all be made right with good governance. So the question is how is that going to be achieved?

Undoubtedly, the average Nigerian acknowledges   the obstacles of ethnic   pluralism   and inter-ethnic conflict in the society. However, rarely it is that a good number of citizens make a link between the partisan politics behavior, the political culture in the country, and   its contribution  to national cohesion  and development, or otherwise.

The peculiarities of a political system known as the political culture in  any  society has dire consequences on the strength of leadership. That is to say that there is always a link between the workings of the   political   system   in   assessing whether   good governance is practicable.

Admittedly, in Nigeria a number of wrong partisan politics behavior such as party switching or ‘decamping’ by incumbent office   holder   to   a   ruling   party, taking  payment  from political office holders to fund   the political party, vote buying using money   or materials, amongst others, has persisted overtime and has become   the norm.

It is unfortunate to see some still fall for the empty   promises   of  politicians, and feel optimistic towards good governance without thinking first to demand for the restructure of the political culture.

Therefore, before plummeting into how the political culture and partisan behavior is hindering development, let us discuss what good governance is for Nigerians.

The idea of good governance can be  said to be notional, due to its meaning different things to different segments of the population. In some societies, ideal governance entails the activities and processes of governing, not necessarily about the outcomes, rather how it wants to be achieved.

This can be good governance in Nigeria if the methods through which the country’s  affairs  are managed are coming is led with responsiveness, transparency   and accountability; publicly, financially, administratively.

Again in other societies, for good governance to be achieved the administration must manage public affairs which embraces the basis of   political   authority   and openness to the citizens.

In both of these dynamics, there is an emphasis on accountability, legitimacy  and   transparency which   is obviously  absent  in   the present political setting. The   reason   is   a  direct   link   to   the political   culture   adapted   in   Nigeria, namely parochial political culture.

The development of this political culture primarily stems from poor political socialization on the part of the  citizenry in a way that not only are the masses unaware of the structures and functions of the government, such  comprehensive awareness does not really exist and even if it does, it is doused in primordial sentiments. This  pushes them  to be  engrossed ethnic   and religious enclaves than the affairs   of the central government.

Having said that, it does not only stop there, even the   financially-average   Nigerian   who   is   aware   of   the failures   of   the nation   has   an   ambition   to   get   as much money as possible by giving and taking of money or food items etc. in order to make arrangements for politicians to buy votes from those whose electoral conscience is dry. Some also take monetary and material things as   their   way   of ‘tasting   the   national cake’. Commensurately, this produces a vicious sequela in the sense   that   the   demand   for   accountability   and transparency   is lost.

A kind of ’the one who pays the piper dictates the tune’ thing. Another deteriorative impact on the development of the nation is the inappropriate funding of political parties by the incumbent officeholder. This gives those who fund the party to dominate it, and also, in the process of soliciting for funds some of these officeholders perpetrate fraud and embezzlement to meet up.

Furthermore, to   preserve   governmental   position, cover past atrocities, seek for more power, and reconcile personal   aggrandizement, political   leaders   that occupy key positions engage in party switching without first of all   resigning   from   the   sit they occupy.   Although   the legality   of   party   crossing   is   still   controversial, it   does weaken   Nigeria’s   democratic   strength   due   to   the   fact that it is done in the interest of an opportunistic few.

A   lot   of   us   will   confess   to   how   the   problems   in Nigeria   seem   to   progress   more   than   its   prosperous innovations and that is obviously not the signs of development, and   though   there   is   a   colorful collection of issues, we have not been able to extensively discuss   how   the   country’s   partisan   politics   behavior contributes to the obstacles when in fact it is primarily to bring about wellness and evolutions.

In saner climes, the portrayal of strong nationalistic attitude is apparent in the population and this is actually bred in the bone right from birth. While we can put the bulk of the blame on the political figures, said persons come from the population and when the citizens have a negative perception of public policies, good governance might never be attained.
Though   this   point   can   be disputed but the way we think, comport or react to the nation’s   issues   make   some   of   these   leaders   to   openly resist   solutions.   The   laziest   effort   one   might   show regarding regular incidents like a hen laying an egg is what Nigerians will   display   towards   the   news   of   200 school children being abducted, resident doctors going on strike, slumping   exchange   rate   and   other   mishaps plaguing the country.

In an electoral democracy, the fundamental power the public hold   is   to   question   the   government intermittently, however   when   people   are   careless towards nation shaping, while heavily relying on political leaders for everything the promises of good governance becomes a teeter-totter of half-truths and deceptions.

Zubaida Baba Ibrahim
Staff Writer at PRNigeria Center,
Wuye Abuja.