Chapter
Two
Review
of Related Literature
2.1 Overview
In this chapter the researcher reviewed existing related
literature on the subject matter.
To that effect the work focused on literature related to Christian
participation in politics, with the aim of discovering what people have already
written on the issue. To help the researcher to go into what politics is origin
of Christian political participation in politics, the process and means of
acquiring political power, the researcher shall also review the purpose and
reasons for playing politics by Christians.
The nature of
politics then and our own brand of politics here in Africa, Nigeria, Ebonyi
State in general and Ishielu Local Government in Particular.
Furthermore, the
work shall consider the various
ways of acquiring power and the
possibility of effective Christian's participation in politics. The work shall
streamline the merits and demerits of Christians participation effectively in
politics.
The review
followed the pattern of looking at what other have previously written in
related literature whether agreeing or disagreeing on the view of the writers
as the case may be.
2.2 The Concept of Government
It is
extremely difficult to write, research or review related literature
concerning Christian participation effectively in politics without touching
such areas as the concept of politics, party
politics, democracy, elections, democracy, to mention
but a few. Government said Herman Finner is politics and administration that means if you want to be in charge -in government, you
must to acquire power to administer.
2.3 The Concept of Politics
In the words of Ibezim (1999), politics is struggle for a; it
involves struggle, ever the higher stakes the authority to and carry out
polices that are bounding on the entire society.
In view
of the magnitude of the stakes in the game of politics, many of our adult
citizens for one reason or the other fail to participate effectively in
politics. The truth is that whether you participate or not, you are unavoidably
involved in politics either omission or commission, either by action or
inaction, is either are a participant in the political science or you are a spectator,
there are no other ways about it. What we practice is democratic government for
get about whether election was rigged no matter how good or bad the conduct of the election.
In the words of Ibezim (1985), democracy requires that the apathetic Minority (whether
they like it or not) will be governed by politics. They have no direct part in
shaping. These are the majority.
Since man is a political animal and either by
our actions or inactions we are involved in politics, it is necessary for us to address our minds as
Christians towards effective participation in politics, since non-participation
cannot change the status.
2.4 The Concept of Power
Still on Ibezim (1999) power is central concern of all politics, national or
international, power is not something that can be
grasped in a physical sense.
Power
is not tangible thing, rather it is a relationship. A relationship of power
exists, if there is ever one individual or group
are subordinated to another with respect to some form of activity.
A
person is said to be in power or enjoy power whenever he can influence the
behaviors of other to conform to his own wish or intentions.
Noted further that power is immanent in any political community no
matter its level of political development. Political of psychological relation
between those who exercise it those over who it is exercised.
Ake (1983) noted that politics in Nigeria is a do or die because
politics is seen as the easiest means of primitive capital accumulation. The
rules are subverted and the winner all there in the political system. The above
assertion has made people work on Christian in politics as involved in sheep clothing.
It has made people feel that a true Christian should not participate in
politics talk less of participating effectively but the gospel truth is that
whether we participate or are not of the political system either as actors or spectators and we are guided by the politics of those in
power, hence the need for Christians to be
involved in politics effectively.
On his own, Akpata (1994) noted a lot has been said about mass participation and the
researcher proposal will be an attempt of
aggregate various interests the type or represented action one has
in mind is one that has some kind of social conscience. The above statement, participation
in politics needs human face and Asocial conscience, it is on this premise that call for,
and support effective Christian's participation in the political process.
Contributing Onyemekeya (1996) stated that most of the politicians (77-87%) were
unqualified and inexperienced. Consequently they lack the necessary acumen to understand
the important issue involved in politics.
The fact that a lot of Christian are
qualified, plus their true Christians features call for their participation in
politics. Christian needs to participate
effectively to change the face of our body politics.
Nzeogwu (1996) while announcing the dissolution of the first
republic noted that the enemies of Nigeria were the political profiteers, swindlers, those
that seek to keep
the country permanently divided so that
they can remain in office. Since that is the
case, Christians as matter of urgency need to participate effectively in
politics all things being equal. Various view have been put forward for the collapse of the republic.
Nnoh (1993) noted ethnicity has been used differently by politicians
to fan the member of disunity in the
country. Politicians
whip up ethnic sentiments in their bid to enhance their bargaining position among rural areas. The level of ethnic
politics is one aspect that affect, effective
participation of Christians in besides corruption, corruption is a canker worm
has whatever that is charitable in our -body politics and the is that corruption has made many honest and God fearing Christians
shun politics and all it stands for.
A forcy into the political history of Nigeria shows that the try
is indeed centrifugation of many interests. The number of ic nationalities
is more than two hundred (200).
Nwanuri (1997) opined that the solution to the intricate problem
of Nigeria base its enthronement of good leadership required to direct the
affairs of others.
It is the
believe of the researchers
that Christians participating in
effective politics can go a long way in producing desired good leadership the country its
demurring for, all the though the odds against such effective participation in
mammoth. .can a true Christian effective embark an effective political participation
while corruption is the bane, of Nigeria politics? Ishiulu Local Government Area inclusive.
Achebe (2000) identify corruption as the bane of country decay when
he noted that the entire structure and institution in Nigeria smeeks of
corruption. The situation has ended trust amongst the federating units and
enthroned mediocrity in our national psyche.
The saying that if you can't beat them, join them readily f comes to
mind, what is the guarantee that
Christians participating effectively in politics will not join the corrupt
wagon. The truth being that corruption militate
against effective participation in polities by
true Christians.
Deleh (1997) has this to
say, Nigeria is a country where politicians are prepared to correct any
atrocity to ensure that they remain in power.
Considering this statement for a Reverend father one is forced to conduce that effective
Christian participation Nigeria in general Ishiulu
in particular look like an up hill trust. To buttress, the above fact the Christian of the presidential campaign of
P.D.P in 2003 was quoted as saying that if they did not
lose the election 1999 when
it was conducted by the military, it was certain that they could not lose, now
that they were going to conduct it by themselves. A peep at the above statement
points out why it is •difficult for Christians to participate effectively in
Nigeria politics since to a large extend who gets what, why and now has already
been determined well before
the election, how can a Christian participate
effectively since rigging is now a system of acceptable Selection in Nigeria.
O. Eleh (1997) noted things have gone away
in this country, many Nigerians possibly all of us, have
contributed in one way or other in making
things bad, some do so through active participation.
He noted further, they believe that whenever you cannot some do it through
negligence of duty or sheer apathy. They do
want to get involved. Some do it through ignorance. Looking critically at O. Deh assertion our problem is a
collective guilt either by omission or commission willingly or unwillingly. At
times Christians are guilty of participating or joining them since
they can't beat them as times they are guilty of aloofness not participating
one can pity the situation a Christian as far as t effective participation in
politics is concerned.
He went further to stress they are the gullible masses. That Shave
believe and act on what ever they are told by their unquestionable masters. Some do it through fear;
they do not I want to die. Politics, the
way it is played in Africa, Nigeria, Ebonyi state and Ishiulu Local Government Area in particular to
say the least
is dirt, the dirtiness is one of the factors militating effective Christian participation in politics.
A further review of the book O Deh the madness called election
stated that leadership in Nigeria has become a huge investment and a life insurance
scheme when one has to engage in many. A normal thing to be secure in preparing
He stated further.
No Nigerian who has tested the trapping of office has left it willingly without force or
often violent pressure while those who as pair
to be there spare nobody and nothing on their way.
From the above,
this comments from the
Reverend gentleman
once can see that in the Nigeria context effective Christians participation in politics for now is still
fraught in danger and then water is still very
mucky.
He conduced that until learns to make leadership less attractive,
less lucrative and reckless in the country.
The researcher is of the opinion that he is far away from the for now is a way of
conducting in Nigeria in the words for the Reverend gentleman. If what happened
in this country in April 12 and 19 2003 is what they call free and fair
election. Then I will not hesitate to say to hell with democracy.
He went on to point out that what took place in Nigeria on those days had no semblemance
of democratic elections.
He noted further that hundreds of
thousands of the Nigerian army, the politics and lorded political things were
armed to the if
teeth and were let lose an innocent citizens in the name of keeping peace and
ensuring free and pain election.
He noted also that the
truth is that came to compel people to submission over the unprecedented submission over the
presidential electoral malpractices that characterized the whole charade.
With
all these pictures at it is one can say that
effective participation of Christians in
Nigeria politics is for now a rose.
2.5 Election Rigging
Ringing is one of the factor that militate
against Christian effectively
participation in politics. O. Deh (2003) has this to say the least, election
2003. Witnessed the worst rigging in the history of Nigeria. Inshore, there were no election; people
were deceived to come out of their homes in the name of elections only to be. Ringing
simply put is scheme and maneuvers to circumvent the wishers of the majority in favour of a selfish few and rigging
in one factors that effectively militates against
Christian from participating in effective party politics. He went further to
say.
When we think of what, political
elections should be in a decent and less corral society, the election of April 2003
were the in the history of Nigeria not peaceful, they were not fair. If one a critical Brut he above statement, if 2003 is what should be, no
Christian read to go involved in the mucky waters a party politics, there's
no way a
Christian can participate effectively in Nigeria politics.
It is true that Nigerian cry, their eyes out those things are bad
but the truth remains that only very few people are prepared to go f though
what it takes to bring. About a positive change or to follow those who are
prepared to make the sacrifice. With the above
system one can see that even when the Christians participate
effectively in politics fellowship becomes a problem since people are not willing to follow those
who genuinely and desirously want to sacrifices to help the people, politics in
Nigeria is for the ugly and ruthless and not for devoted Christian
Madaki (2003) state this:
I am worried because things have not gone the way we thought
they would if the military recited the military have been replaced by another
set of people and tigers in sheep's skin.
The
researcher is seriously worried about effective Christians participation in politics,
it highly placed, retire military officers like Madaki can describe our politicians
and so called democrats as tigers in sheep clothing. This seriously militates
against effective participation of Christians in politics. He went further to say
or state. Since the commencement of democracy, we have gone into one trouble or the other with the shy locks
people who think they can only wake a living and
good government.
Odeh (2003) noted: To say the least in a country where leadership has always belonged to those who
have. The where withal to take is by hook or by crook, where it does not
matter, however is voted into power, where
whoever would be the leader has always been decided long before any election.
In Nigeria since leadership belongs to those who have the ;
where-withal to take it by hook or crook, without minding whoever is voted into
power where whoever that will be the leader has always been decided long before any election is
a bad I omen for Christian's participating effectively in politics. In Nigeria, Ebonyi State
and Ishiulu Local Government Area
in particular.
The international observers headed by Dr. Oskor Lebner, Dr. Mas
Van, Den Bent and Dr. Heins Joecker made it very clear thus: The elections were
a complete sham, an organized trend, not transparent, were not free, they were
not fair, they were not peaceful. The comments of the international election
observers show that the politicians have learns nothing, it puts a question mark
on Christians participating effectively in party politics.
Human right activist Olisa Agbakoba (2003) has this to say partisan
politics is not the same as human right activism. It is about lying, cheating,
deceiving, disloyalty and all other evil things that we have in the world. In
influential person amities can so describe politics as about lying, cheating,
deceiving, disloyalty and all other evil things that one can think of. This is a
serious Impediment against
Christians effectively participation in politics.
2.6 Money Politics
Nigeria politics is deep rooted in money politics. To win lection, you must be a
"MONEY BAG" or you need a good father is
a "MONEY BAG" to things happen for you, with due respect to millionaires God-father Uba and
Governor Ngige of Anambra State.
Olisa
(2003) still has this to say:
The only way for you to win politics today is to have money. And
you must be ready to do anything including killing and maiming people. He noted
further predict that Nigerian will not begin to turn around in 30 to 50 years. Good men don't
thrives where there is evil. So unless there's
some kind of revolution …..
Olisa has said it all, the only way to think even to contest election
is to have money and that one must be ready to anything including killing and maiming.
He
conclude that good men don't thrive where there is evil, so unless there is
a kind of God's intervention
effective Christian participation in politics is not sight except the person is only a Christian by identify, the way Nigeria politics is,
it is not for a serious minded God-fearing and God loving Christians
participate in politics effectively the participation must be prepared to do
many things that are wicked and ruthless.
v
Odeh summarized
it thus: that person must be prepared to tell lies in the world in order to
convince the ignorant and the gullible that he alone can saluage their hope and
aspirations.
v
He must be
prepared to steal and to accept money from Satan if possible to ensure that he
has enough to distribute among the impoverished and miserable people in the remote villages who will hence forth vow to
follow him even to his grave.
v
He must be ready
to smother his conscience in the name of politics to ensure that he can commit
in-creditable atrocities without having quiches.
v
He must be
prepared to build up a formidable army of hook, games, which will kill his
political opponents whenever he feels they are an obstruction to his ambition.
v
He must be
prepared to make God work like an accomplice in his crimes by presenting those
crimes as the enduring dividends and pious prayer meetings.
A look at the picture pointed by Odeh shows that a Christian is
not the type of person to do any of the above and as such a Christian
participating effectively in politics is like the biblical Carmel passing
through the eye of a needle. People plan
how to rig election and control oil money and power, period, yam, Olowolab of
tell magazine described gain fawehinimi as.
A philosopher king with an uncanny
mental capacity and deep spiritual
insight to see the invisible hear the mandible and touch the intangible, he thrives
on facts and figures garnered from analysis and interpretation of events.
There is a big question begging for answer, if people like, gain, Fawehinmi
with all transparency, sacrifice and suffer has no in Nigeria politics is about
money and power, it is about ting in an election it's is about rigging in and
rigging out to successful
politicians in Nigeria, you must be prepared anything, even maiming and killing
those you may consider stacks to your
ambition.
Nigeria
politics is characterized by money and thuggrey and is a serious impediment
against effective Christian participation in politics.
Obasanjo in his book "Criminal called men" has this to
say is a contradiction a complex being and a unique animal man two faces, one side of man
shows his capacity to be kind, passionate,
loving and to acknowledge and honors the truth.
This the
divine aspect of man.
He further more to say:
The
other face shows him using his ability capacity and ingenuity maliciously,
selfishly, devilishly and oppressively. This is satanic aspect of man.
He
concluded by saying:
Of all the calamities that have been visited upon the world and
its inhabitances,
the willing surrender of the human spirit of materialistic value is the worst.
From the above postulation by Obasanjo one can comfortably say
that the other face that use his ability capability and ingenuity to
maliciously and selfish oppress in a devilish lanner the masses politically is
representing the Nigerians situation. Given the above what room is left for
Christians to participate effectively in politics, since politics in Nigeria
has lie coloration and application?
For the noble laurite professor Wole Soyinka the so-called 2003
election was the worst in the history of Nigeria. In his own words.
All that passed for 2003 election left the opposition reading and international observers in
awe at the sheer effrontery of ballot robbery,
as revealed day by day, reveals tightly centralized operation,
not a sporadic series of electoral violation.
Given the above repot from non other person than the noble aureate gives a grain
picture of what politics is in Nigeria using 2003
as a case study, it is difficult to talk of Christians participating
effectively in politics given the criminal way in which politics is being played
in the country with
man constructed. It is a statement of fact that politics in Nigeria defines all known
definition of the subject. The way we go about our
sacrificed themselves of us, a wasted
generation.
Herbert
Samuel Macaukly, the Nigeria's father of nationalism
noted:
For posterity when the new Nigeria comes. Tell them for their
tomorrow, we give our today. And for all Nigerians of the I North and South as
my moustache and bow tie is parallel and inseparable. So shall the unity
between the North and the South is indestructible.
The way we go about participating in politics and the way politics is being played in
the country, our generation is a colossal.
Shame to our forefather with the way things are, it
is difficult for Christians to participate
effectively in politics. In the actual sense there
is no participating democracy in Nigeria, there is no election except you are talking of institutionalized
rigging that normal election so of
participation a lot of obstacles are on the way the elective Christians
participation in politics.
According to guardians newspaper of March 3, 2005, captioned U.S report scores Nigeria low on electoral
system and human right state's. Nigerians still find it difficult of folly
assert their rights to change their leading through ballot box. The report, which is authorized by the
U.S congress, is central to American politics
toward other countries. This leaves a question mark on ability to participation effectively in the political
process due to schemes and maneuvers put in
place by our political leaders to short change our right to choose our leaders.
The report went further to the abridging of
Nigerians right vote and possibly
Change their government as a pointer that not much
has happened the political terrain.
From the above one can see to participate are, we disenfranchised,
since your vote doesn't matter whether you vote or not, now then can a
Christian participate effective in politics since there is no room for
participation.
2.7 God-Fatherism in Nigeria Politics
The governor of Anambra State Dr. Chris Ngige was abducted on the
instruction of this political God-father. Mr. Chris
Uba, the onus of the matter being that he sponsored governor Ngige to become
governor, that he invested some billions to
make sure he wins the election. Ngige has this to say:
It will not augur well for Nigerian's nascent democracy, if
policemen acting on the order of individuals can abduct a sitting Teraor and keep him under
custody for five hours. Which individual is "Ngige" talking about? Is
talking about his political Godfather effectively
since Godfathers determine who participates, who wins and who gets what or who
must lose.
He went further to say:
My
immunity as a state governor against arrest and prosecution has been violated.
The have desecrated my office. Governor Ngige narrated the effort of some politicians
in the state to sign away state money to them, he went further to state that at
times they forced him to sign a dated cheques when he refused they allegedly threatened him to
death. Ruminating through the oriental at Governor Ngige one can see a serious threat to
Christian participate effectively in politics. The hassles in participating in Nigeria politics. Is belter in imagined than real, Ade Shoyebo
(2004) noted thus being a voter these days is not a roses, the quality of public debate, has declined shocking since
days of shockingly since the days of our founding father.
He went further to stress:
Bombarded on all sides by alleged experts. He will dared by the intricate ballet of various
invented terms. Knowing for some only that he
and his family are feeling the pinch is it reasonable to expect even compression let alone self-restraint from such
a voter.
This is the leaky vessel in which Nigerian 21st century
democracy has set sail. Here at home disenchantment on political participation grouse in
bounds, people are not interested in political participation because corruption
in government is high, the poor are getting
poorer, no known political ideology, the electorates
are fed up and mass apathy is the order of the body. Salvation cannot come through the polices, or
through the leaders. In the words and do the deeds, with the way things are, it
against effectives Christian's participation in
politics.
2.8 The Political Sovereign
Every political system claims to be representing the people be it western, eastern a
non-designed group. The electorate is said to
be the political sovereign and it is where the electorate is the political sovereign that you behold the beauty of democracy
can this be said of Nigeria? People find it
difficult to participate in Nigeria political because the electorate is not the
sovereign if you like, you vote, if you like don't vote the winners have
already been determined by the powers that be. Adigwe
(2002) put it thus:
It is the electorate that is the political sovereign and it is sufficient to say that they are two
types of democratic system. Once is based on
the motion that society is a community of individuals r the different, but reconcilable
interests.
He
stated further:
Consequently, the adherents of this belief have constructed
electoral system based on the right of each adult to vote the way the chooses.
This is what part of effective political participation Bought to be and this is
not the case in Nigeria, hence the setback
out effective Christians participation in politics.
2.9. Representative Government
Representative government is the same thing as participating
government or democratic government. Representative in participatory government has its beauty
and rugly side; the beauty can enhance participating, while the ugly work against participating in politics. Adigwe stated thus:
The British created participating democracy with the secret lot
system as a key of its success, by creating the secret ballot system. The
abolished all sort of primitive forms of voting.
how his
abductors backed by uninformed men stormed his office bundled-slaughter him in
to the boot of a car and speed off, that was the end of his tenure as Chairman of
the local government area. Seeing all this, some one with love and fear of. God will find it extremely
difficult to participate effectively in politics, Thuggrey is now the arrowhead
of Nigeria politics. In the past they use -to give or bribe the electorate with
money but today no way they prate to give it to the thing to uncast terrors on
the electorate so as force them in submission on abhor.
2.10 Legal Constraints
Legal aspect and constraints has been militating against effective
participation, in politics various court cases has militated against
participation you will be doing a court cases have, militated, you want
re-claim Expires. The Nigeria legal. System has contributed in not shell
measure towards the raps of participating democracy, genuine cases are delayed
with put causes justice delayed, being justice denied.
For instance, an Amambia
high court headed by justice Stanley Nnaji gav.e an order-dismissing governor
Christ Ngige from
office
people who between this has constituted a stumbling block towards effective
Christian participation in politics because you are aware that if you are
rigged out, the chances of your regaining your mandate is one in two hundred
cases.
Hence this has led to apathy and I don't care type of attitude to
wards participating n polities.
2.11
Thuggery as a Militating Factor
One factor has been
seriously militating against well meaning Nigerian from effectively
participating in politics as thuggrey. For instance the lingering political
crisis between Oyo state governors on 23rd March, 2004 took a new
twist as suspected thing destroyed the campaign rostrum meant for the
governor's use the guardian reported: Armed thing deseeded on the canopies and
smarted them to pieces the thing numbering about 40. Had besieged the venue in
four vehicles. This incident, occurred in broad day light and if this can
happen to a governor with his security details, our wonders who else is safe.
2.12
Political Assassination
Political
assassination and attempt has characterized Nigeria political arena, this has
serious impact on people generally and Christians in particular from
Patticiting effectively in politics. Look at the death of Bola Ige the nation
chief law officer.
The
death of Dikkibu to mention but this few one just a peep into political motivated
killing that made a lot of people unwilling to participate effectively in
politics, Christians alike. Former federal capital territory (FCT) ministers
LT. Gen Jeremiah useno condemned the current spate of political killings and
the level of corruption in the country. He stated that Government has not done
well in terms of corruption. Right in government there is corruption; political
killing in the country gives on unabated.
Professor
whole Soynika describe the people democratic party as a nest of killers, he was
referring to the various act as assassination and attempted political
assassination in the country.
These
spate of killings have made many vow that if this is what political
participation is all about, you better court me off.
Many
have vowed not to participate in Nigeria politics at all that is
that
make people lose interests in effective political participation in the and
Ishielu local Government Area GA, in particular .
Summary
The aim of this review is to accept an
Exposition at the variable under study. Through the Examination of the various
Authors and publications. The work focused on literature, related to
participation in politics, the political process and election, it outered into
Africa brand of politics which Nigeria is also playing to her extreme. The work
looked at the concept of politics and government, participation democracy. The
concept of power. It also Examined the factors that militate against effective
Christian participation in politics ad it identified such factors. God-Fatherism,
money politics, thuggrey, secret
ballot system, killing and
maiming political association and legal constraints that borders on not discharging justice on time and denying justice out rightly the
researcher concluded that thing like political assassination, thuggrey, ringing
money politics, secret ballot system and God-Fatherism among other combine to
militate against effective Christian participation in politics in Nigeria. The
researcher intends to relate her to chapter