Project Abstract

Abstract
Patron-client politics has been a prominent feature of Nigerian society, deeply embedded in its political landscape and influencing various spheres of national development. This research project aims to explore the intricate relationship between patron-client politics and national development in Nigeria. By examining the historical roots of this phenomenon and its evolution over time, the study seeks to shed light on how patronage networks have shaped the country's political and economic structures. Through a comprehensive analysis of case studies and empirical data, the research delves into the dynamics of patron-client relationships in Nigeria, unpacking the mechanisms through which political elites utilize these networks to consolidate power and influence decision-making processes. The study also investigates the impact of patronage on governance, public service delivery, and the overall development trajectory of the nation. Furthermore, the research project examines the implications of patron-client politics on key development indicators such as economic growth, social welfare, and institutional capacity. By exploring the extent to which patronage hinders or fosters national development goals, the study aims to provide valuable insights for policymakers, scholars, and development practitioners seeking to address governance challenges in Nigeria. In addition, the research project explores the role of external actors and international influences in shaping patron-client dynamics in Nigeria. By analyzing how foreign aid, investment, and diplomatic relations intersect with domestic patronage networks, the study aims to elucidate the complex web of relationships that underpin Nigeria's development trajectory. Overall, this research project contributes to the existing literature on patron-client politics and national development by offering a nuanced understanding of the dynamics at play in the Nigerian context. By unpacking the complexities of patronage networks and their implications for governance and development, the study provides a comprehensive analysis that can inform policy decisions and interventions aimed at promoting sustainable and inclusive development in Nigeria.

Project Overview

INTRODUCTION
Richard A. Joseph… is usually credited with first using the term prebendalism to describe patron-client or neopatrimonialism in Nigeria. Since then the term has commonly been used in scholarly literature and textbooks. The Catholic Encyclopedia defines a pretend as the “right of member of chapter to his share in the revenues of a cathedral.” Joseph used the term to describe the sense of entitlement that many people in Nigeria feel they have to the revenues of the Nigerian state. Elected officials, government workers, and members of the ethnic and religious groups to which they belong feel they have a right to a share of government revenues Joseph wrote: “According to the theory of prebendalism, state offices are regarded as pretends that can be appropriated by officeholders, who use them to generate material benefits for themselves and their constituents and kin groups…” As a result of that kind of patron-client or identity politics, Nigeria has regularly been one of the lowest ranked nations for political transparency by Transparency International in its Corruption Perceptions.
As Oluwafemi stated: many Nigerians may not know the term, but they know the practices and attitudes to which it refers.To understand prebendalism,it is necessary to grasp what is a prebend. The dividing line is when the office holder is able to appropriate the office, that is, convert it into his or her piece of the state. In contemporary Nigeria, and other peripheral capitalist countries, there is a short time-horizon in which resources accruing to the office can be diverted for personal and related uses, or for the capital accumulation which it facilitates. “The prebendalization of the patrimonial state”, in the Wikipedia excerpt, is therefore an apt formulation. Prebendalism is not necessarily Nigerian. It is entrenched and a pervasive nature in a country; and how prebendal attitudes were woven into what Ken Post and Michael Vickers had earlier described as a “conglomerate society”, i.e., a nation composed of cultural sections defined by ethnicity, language, region and cultural practices. Patron-client mechanisms were fundamental features of a dynamic system that linked the appropriation of state offices in Nigeria to the material and welfare of the people. A key consideration is what happens to the state itself. A prebendalized system, however, is inherently unstable. Aspirations to build a capable state, a democratic system, and a coherent nation are ultimately foiled by prebendal practices