TITLE:
Political Elitism in Nigeria: Challenges, Threats and the Future of Citizenship
AUTHORS:
Oluwasegunota F. O. Bolarinwa, Ucheoma C. Osuji
KEYWORDS:
Elites, Political Elitism, Citizen, Africa, Democracy, Governance, Exclusionary Politics
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Philosophy,
Vol.12 No.1,
February
22,
2022
ABSTRACT: This paper explores the impacts of political
elitism in Nigeria. This is informed by our past
experiences and present realities of Nigerian political elites that play
exclusionary politics which this paper interrogates. It argues the thesis that
there is need for inclusive governance and political participation in order not
to turn Nigeria into a fragile state. The purpose of this is to ensure that
good governance is achieved and sustained. This is based on the reason that political relationships between elites and
citizens dictate development outcomes. Delivering development involves
working with the political dynamics that has citizens’ welfare as its focus. It
does this by addressing social justice and extremes of inequality as
“bottom-up” as well as “top-down” political, social and economic processes that
sustain effective states, efficient markets and vibrant societies. Governance
describes the way states and societies manage their affairs politically and the
way power and authority are exercised. Entrusting governance to a few people
that constitutes the political class endangers development, political
participation and settlements. It also increases cycles of poverty among
citizens that do not belong to the elite class. This reinforces the argument of
the thesis that political elitism creates poor relations and hinders economic
development and sustains fragile citizenship. Hence, this paper adopts critical
phenomenology as its methodology to redefine political participation with
inclusiveness while dismantling the tempting tendencies of political elitism and
corruptive practices that stagnate governance and development. This paper
submits that inclusive political participation will ensure that governance is
centralized and built on finest philosophical ideals for overall nation
building for the benefit of Nigerian citizens. By this, Nigeria will not be
left in the hands of few less sensitive political elites.