HEGEMONY OF NIGERIA POLITICAL BOURGEOISIE

By Ayodele Seun

Karl Marx argued that every human society has been pluralize into two groups, The rich and poor, elites and masses, lord and serf, bourgeoisie and proletariat, have and have not. Marx argued that there will be clash/conflict of interest between the two classes from feudalism where feudal lord and serf will clash to capitalism where the clash will be so intense between bourgeoisie and proletariat that new social order will emerged to socialism and communism where people will get according to his need and give according to his ability.

Nigeria political bourgeoisie are in two form; political godfatherism and political entrepreneur.

Political godfatherism are prominent, charisma, extravagantly generous and influential people who command a lot of respect in their community/state and among their peers. They always kept their door/gate open for visitors with the sole aim of controlling people in the corridor of power and public fund. People like Chief Chris Uba, Jim Nwobodo, Chief Lamidi Adedibu, Dr Olusola Saraki, Sen. Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Atiku Abubakar etc.

While Political Entrepreneur are wealthy, professionals, and business moguls who invest their resources on a political candidates for reward of been given political appointment and award of contract jobs. The like of Abdulrasheed Maina, Aliko Dangote, Femi Otedola,Arthur Eze and Jide Omokore etc.

Nigeria political bourgeoisie has combine the both qualities of political entrepreneur and god fatherism but as our democracy is growing our political bourgeoisie is now evolving toward political entrepreneur and godfatherism will soon become the things of the past.

The political bourgeoisie of Nigeria has become so prominent in this dispensation (Nigeria Fourth Republic ).It all started with our military Genarals of Abdulsalam Abubakar who released General Olusegun Obasanjo from prison and supported by General Ibrahim Babagida and General T.Y Danjuma that projected and sponsored General Olusegun Obasanjo to emerged Nigeria president-elect on 27 February 1999,on the plat form of People’s Democratic Party (PDP),who defeated Olu Falae, who was running on a joint Alliance for Democracy-All People’s Party ticket.

But Chief Olusegun Obasanjo easily harmonizes the interest of his political bourgeoisie and uses his military seniority to put them on check.

The story is differ at the state level where godfathers clash with their anointed son in Anambra,Oyo,Kwara, Plateau  and Enugu.

The clash was intense then in Anambra state between Governor Chris Ngige and His godfather chris Uba to the extent that government house was burnt and the sitting Governor was kidnaped by security operatives. The story was not palatable in Oyo state where a sitting Governor then Rashidi Ladoja was barred from passing the route around his godfather house (chief Lamidi Adedibu), who later instigated Oyo state House of Assembly that eventually impeached Governor Rashidi Ladoja on January 2006, but reinstated in December 2006.

And in kwara state, Governor mohammed Lawal clash with his godfather chief Olusola Saraki.governor Lawal almost enthrone another kingship of oba of Ilorin in order to sideline Emir of Ilorin who is loyal to chief Olusola Saraki and the second republic senate leader defect from All Peoples Party (APP) to People’s Democratic Party (PDP) under plat form by which his son Dr bukola Saraki contested gubernatorial election in 2003 and defeated the incumbent Governor Mohammed Lawal.

The impact of political godfatherism is always negatively felt at the state and local government level where they do dry state milk and even share from state fund (Allocation from federal government) on monthly basis. Some of them go to the extent of forcing the Governor/Chairman to swear on an oath never to betray them from sharing national cake. They factually do nominate all the state commissioners and other political appointee (He who pays the piper dictates the tune).

Since the announcement of General Muhammadu buhari, as the winner of the march 28, 2015 presidentila election, one of the greatest challenges ahead of him is how to harmonize the hegemony of the political bourgeoisie around him (Sen. Ahmed Tinubu, Sen Bukola Saraki, Rotimi Amaechi, Atiku Abubakar, Rochas Okorocha, and Chief Olusegun Obasanjo etc.) for the betterment of all Nigerians.

People’s General need to learn from President Goodluck Jonathan who allows cabal to ruin his transformation administration. Time will tell if General Muhammadu Buhari will not allow these political bourgeoisies to ruin his administration.