CORRUPTION AND SOCIOPOLITICAL DEVELOPMENT IN JIGAWA STATE

1.1 Introduction

Political corruption has affected the cognitive perception of Nigerians since the current democratic experiment began in 1999. First there is doubt about the ability of the Nigerian state to organize a free, fair and credible election; second there is this perception that political appointments are one sure way to wealth and elevation of social status; and third, there is also the perception that the political office holders cannot be responsible and accountable to the citizens. The impact of this on democratic consolidation in Nigeria is clear (Ogundiya, 2006). Corruption has reached a level in Nigeria such that an average Nigerian citizen believes that there is an inextricable link between corruption and democracy.

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.

---

1.2 Background of Study

Corruption issue in Nigeria is a form of anti-social behavior by an individual or social group which confers unjust or fraudulent benefits on its perpetrators, is consistent with the established legal norms and prevailing moral ethos of the land and is likely to subvert or diminish by capacity of the legitimate authorities to provide fully for the material well- being of all the members of society in a just and equitable manner. President Muhammadu Buhari defined Corruption as the greatest form of human right Violation. Since the Creation of Modern Public Administration in the Country, there have been cases of official misuse of funds and resources.

The rise of public Administration and the discovery of oil and National Gas are two major events seen to have led to the increase in corrupt practices in the country. However, this is attributed to colonialism. According to this view, the nation’s colonial history may have restricted any early influence in an ethnical revolution; “the trappings of flashy cars, houses and success and to emulate the colonists in different political ways”. Involvement in the agenda of colonial rule may inhibit idealism in the early stages of the nascent nation’s development. A view commonly held during the colonial days was that colonistfr property (cars, houses, farms etc) is not “our” property.

The issue of embezzlement and fraudulent activities, mismanagement, economic corruption, lack of accountability and transparency continues to elude a country like Nigeria ever since her independence. It’s mitigating the entire population both at the grass roots up to the political levels. Even the mentally deterred people in the country could recognize the havoc caused by corruption. Evidence abound that the rate of corruption especially financial crimes like advanced fee fraud fondly known as 419 and money laundering committed in Nigeria is alarming. Nigerian’s are treated with suspicion in all business dealings within and outside the country, making majority of honest Nigerians suffer the result. In regards to this, hassan (2004), opined that the federal government should try to implement an intensive programme of eradicating the menace of corruption in the country. This is because, it has the political will to achieve this objective.

The most relevant effort is the creation of EFCC. The EFCC was established by an act of parliament on December 13th 2002 by the federal government they began full operation in 2003. It has support from the presidency, the legislature, security and law enforcement agencies in Nigeria. The commission is primarily charged with the responsibility of eradicating all the economic and financial crimes such as: advanced fee fraud, money laundering, counterfeits, future market fraud, fraudulent encashment of negotiable instrument, computer credit card fraud, contracts scam, and embezzlement of public funds and illegal acquisition of company shares which do not exist to investors.

According to ajaero (2004), our politicians are also not exempted in this financial crime. In Nigeria today, people see politics as a short cut to becoming a millionaire. Those voted into power use it as an opportunity of looting the public funds, diverting them to their personal account instead of providing the people with dividends of democracy. According to bajo (2004), corruption has continued to be a destructive element in the government of Nigeria and the perception of the country in the community of nations. It has resulted to a lot of problem, thus: loss of government, brain drain, electoral malpractices and absence of law and orders. Thus, vandalism and looking of public property was not seen as a crime against society. This view is what has degenerated into the more recent disregard for public property and lack of public trust and concern for public goods as a collective national property. The government has aimed at containing through the enactment of laws and the enforcement of integrity systems, but success has been slow. As at 2012, Nigeria is estimated to have lost over $400 billion to corruption since independence. Many attributed this to flagrant graft and exists in the country. Many blamed greed and Ostentatious life-style as a potential root cause of these problems. The effects of corruption on the socio-economic landscape of any society can be so devastating that noting meaningful works in the midst of this malaise.

In the midst of all the strands of corruption it can be said that political corruption predominates. And this area of study constitutes the potential issue of study. This is because those at all helm of affairs of government, the political elite accounts for the sharing and allocation of values in the society.

Therefore, in Hadeja Local Government Area where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Corruption and Sociopolitical Development in Jigawa State.

---

1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation revealed that corruption in Nigeria exists at a learning proportion. In government it thrives in the area of project costing, ghost workers syndrome, contract awards and their subsequent abandonment; payment of huge sum of money to political godfathers, embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds. The result or consequences of these acts has been total insecurity, poor economic management, abuse of human rights, ethnic conflicts, capital flight, poverty and the enormous wealth inequality in Nigeria are deeply rooted in political corruption. It has remained a major challenge against Nigerian’s lack of appreciable socio-economic development especially in Jigawa State given its rich endowment in both human and material resources.

---

1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to investigate the corruption and sociopolitical development in Jigawa State using Hadeja Hadeja Local Government Area 2015-2022 as a case study. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To ascertain the level of poverty among the people caused by corruption.
2. To find out the level of explication and infrastructure decay on the state.
3. To suggest ways of combating corruption in the land.
4. To assess the sociopolitical development in Hadeja Hadeja Local Government Area from 2015-2022
5. To identify the consequences of corruption on life substances, self-esteem and freedom of Jigawa State people.

---

1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• Are there consequences of corruption on life substances, self-esteem and freedom of Jigawa State people?
• What is the level of poverty among the people caused by corruption?
• What is the level of explication and infrastructure decay on the state?
• What are the ways of combating corruption in the land?
• What is the sociopolitical development in Hadeja Hadeja Local Government Area from 2015-2022?

---

1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

Hypothesis One

• H0: There is no significant relationship between corruption and sociopolitical growth in Nigeria
• H1: There is a significant relationship between corruption and sociopolitical growth in Nigeria

Hypothesis Two

• H0: Corruption has not led to infrastructural decay in Hadeja Hadeja Local Government Area between 2015-2022
• H1: Corruption has led to infrastructural decay in Hadeja Hadeja Local Government Area between 2015-2022

---

1.7 Significance of Study

This research work is to serve as a valuable tool, as it would be a useful document for future studies. In addition, this study will provide a framework for dealing with the problems of corruption and socio-economic development, in Jigawa State, if the suggestions offered are adhere to. It would also be a veritable input to government officials in making decision concerning corruption.

This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.

---

1.8 Scope of Study

The scope of this study was on aspect of corruption and sociopolitical development in Jigawa State using Hadeja Hadeja Local Government Area 2015-2022 as a case study

---

1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
3. Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
4. Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

---

1.10 Definition of Terms

Corruption: Corruption is a form of dishonesty undertaken by a person entrusted with a position of authority, often to acquire personal benefit. Corruption may include many activities including bribery and embezzlement, though it may also involve practices that are legal in many countries

Political Development: Economic development is the process by which a nation improves the economic, political, and social well-being of its people.

Socio- Political Development: Socioeconomics is the social science that studies how political activity affects and is shaped by social processes.

Godfathers in Nigeria: The term godfathers (alkla money bag, alkla loan-shacks) refers to superfluously very wealthy men (no known women yet) that finance elections.

Madness of second Tenure: This simply means the sit tight system adopted in Nigeria governance where by the governors, chairpersons, and president will be on the government seat and lying or agitating for second tenure for him to be re-elected into the seat.

Political polarization: this simply means the dividing house (party) into different groups of people with different opinion or idea, in a state as a result of politics, i.e disapproval among the individual in the society as in Anambra politics.

Political Brouhaha and upheavals: this is unnecessary estimate, criticism or activity especially in news report to show disapprovals.

Electoral corruption: This includes purchase of votes with money, promises of office or special factors, coercion, intimidation and interference with freedom of election.

Fraud: It involves some kind of trickery, swindle and detect counterfeiting, acketing, smuggling and forgery (Ibid Pu).

Embezzlement: This is theft of public resources by public officials. It is when a state officials steals from the public institution in which he / she is employed.

Extortion: This is money and other resources extracted by the use of coercion violence or threats to use force (Bafart et al 1997, P.11).

Favouritism: this is a mechanism of power abuse implying a highly biased distribution of state resources. However, this is seen as a natural human productivity to favour friends, fairly and anybody close and trusted.

---

1.11 Organization of the Study

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows

Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), statement of problem, objectives of the study, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terms and historical background of the study.

Chapter two highlights theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature.

Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study.

Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.

Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study.