The CAUSES AND EFFECT OF POLITICAL THUGGERY IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper examines and assesses causes and effect of political thuggery in Nigeria. This paper discusses the ugly phenomenon of thuggery in the body politics of Nigeria. It critically examines the reasons for the prevalent incidences of political thuggery in Nigeria. Thuggery is violent behaviour, especially of a criminal nature. “A cowardly act of mindless thuggery “the Nigerian political scene has experienced violence and thuggery in varying degrees. Ruffians hired or instigated by politicians to intimidate their opponents define thuggery as an act of violence or behaviour. It is therefore safe to say that thuggery in Nigerian politics is a means to an end.This paper discusses in detail the menace of political thuggery in Nigeria’s democratic system. It critically examines the reasons for the widespread incidences of thuggery in the country, especially during political campaigns for elective offices, and periods of general elections, and even re-run elections as Nigeria’s political system is characterized by thuggery, violence, harassment etc. Overall, political thuggeryis characterized by robbery, intimidation, gangersterism, murder, physical assault and often involves physical combat between two opposing gangs or groups, which ultimately generates inter-personal or group hostilities. Since the pre-independence General Elections of 1959, politics in Nigeria has been characterized by thuggery and violence. The study reveals that poverty, unemployment, financial attractiveness of elective positions, the value system of wealth accumulation, and an ineffective security agency account for the incidence of political thuggery in Nigeria. Political thuggery hinders public accountability of elective officers and thus is a bane to good governance in Nigeria.Relying on secondary data, theoretical mode of analysis was adopted in order to understand that ethical issues, party intrigues, as well as political violence became so prevalent in electioneering process in Nigeria and called for sober reflection. It is in the light of this that this paper believes that political Thuggery has brought a lot conflicts in Nigeria among ethnics, nations, religions and tribes.