THE PARADIGM OF POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION IN NIGERIA Political Socialization can be seen as the way in which individuals acquire the information, beliefs, attitudes, and values that help them comprehend the operations of the Nigerians political system and orient themselves within it. Political socialization remains the engine room of political development and sustenance of democracy in Nigeria when people of all ages are put through the process of teaching and learning about all aspects of the political system. With a thorough understanding of the political system and possession of relevant political knowledge and attitude the various factors that hinder appropriate practice of democracy and development of enlightened citizenship urged Brainstorm Associates reexamine the relationship between political socialization and political culture in crystallizing the process of nation building in Nigerian society. The developmental implications of the synergy provided drive for continue research on this subject and to argue that nationalism should now encouraged national consciousness and unity that made it possible for the nationalist leaders to emancipate Nigerian society from the shackles of colonialism. Thus, their failure to sustain nationalism on attainment of political independence in 1960, accounted for the inability of the nationalist leaders to mobilize the citizenry through political socialization to evolve right political culture supportive of the political system. This phenomenon created the problem of nation building. The implication was the failure of Nigerian peoples regardless of their individual ethnic, class, religions or linguistic differences to come to identify with the symbols and institutions of the state and share a common sense of destiny. In Nigeria, contested class character and interests of the nationalist leaders were antithetical to national unity and progress. It was characterized by ethnicity, greed for political power and wealth to the detriment of survival of Nigerian society. These phenomena engendered unhealthy political rivalry among political parties already formed along ethnic cleavages. Many Nigerians had also concluded that given this state of affairs, it was difficult for the nationalist leaders to politically socialize Nigerians to evolve the right political culture necessary for nation building. Many Nigerians are dreaming of a prosperous country where every Nigerian will live in dignity. Likewise Brainstorm Associates dream of an end to high levels of poverty, inequality and unemployment in Nigeria. Associates dream of a Nigeria where the rule of law will prevail and where there will be observance of human rights. We dream of Nigeria with purposeful leadership that will put national interests above individual and sectional interests. We dream of leaders that will develop the productive capacities of our country, including human capital. We think continuously and keep dreams of a country with strong industrial base, that will export rather than import finished products. Associates dream of a country where manufacturing of commercial products and innovations/inventions take place in every corner rather than religious houses sprouting in every street corner. We dream of post-oil Nigeria where the manufacturing and service sectors contribute more to exports, employment and GDP. We dream of a country where public servants will be servants and not lords over citizens. We dream of Nigeria governed by decent people rather than criminals who parade themselves as politicians. We dream of a country where politics is a second profession; and when a politician doesn’t win an election, s/he goes back to his or her primary means of livelihood. We dream of Nigeria where public service is not a means of primitive accumulation and of a society where public officials will not loot the national treasury and our commonwealth. We dream of Nigeria where those that attempt to dip their hands into the national purse become outcasts in society, and not rewarded with traditional and religious titles. We dream of a country that rewards hardwork and excellence, where entrepreneurs and not politicians are the richest. We dream of Nigeria where the politicians and other public officials are not the richest among us. We are set to ensure Nigeria society are driven by politics of ideas rather than godfatherism, and ethnic and religious considerations. We dream of a country where gender equality is practiced in all walks of life, including the political sphere. We dream of development and governance, and consequently public policy, based on scientific ideas, hence evidenced-based rather than on myths and superstitions. As Nigeria keep their dreams alive of the day when every Nigerian will experience uninterrupted power supply. Brainstorm Associates dream of a country that will take advantage of our natural environment to generate electricity. We dream of green energy as one of the main sources of power supply in Nigeria. We dream of Nigeria where oil companies will observe the international standards of environmental protection. We dream of the Nigeria with free and fair elections, where politicians will not be experts in writing election results to change the will of the people. We dream of the day when genuine losers of elections will accept the results and move on until the next election. We dream of Nigeria without electoral thuggery. Nigerians dream of a country where our very best, both morally and professionally, will dominate the political space. We dream of Nigeria where elections periods will not be cycles of politically motivated killings. Now at a global perspective, how can we look at the following questions; 1. What is political behavior? 2. Political socialization. How our orientations are shaped; based on Primacy principle and Structuring principle, Socialization over the life cycle, Relationship between socialization and the concept of legitimacy, Cynicism, Agents of political socialization, Changes in contemporary political context that affect the impacts of socializing agents, Political impacts of these changes. Last night this was our focus of conservation with my colleagues/Associates, yet this morning thanks to Teams Staff working effective here in Brainstorm Associates Public Relation Department and Customer Care Unit already on desk; had come up with Explanations of political socialization in two different perspective as follows; a. Primacy Principle proves what is learned first is learned best; b. Structuring Principle proves that what is learned first structures later learning. Having this in mind; lets us also consider agents of political socialization; from our research agents of political socialization shows that:- Family, Schools, communications media, peer groups, secondary groups, professional bodies and Political associations etc are agent of political socialization. Hereto, reviewing also the impacts of changing socialization patterns in Nigeria keep rise in political cynicism and disaffection due to political corruption, violence showing decline in the number of Nigerians who identify meaningfully with either the Democratic Governance System, an indication of more split-ticket voting come 2015, greater frequency of divided government, more non-voting and more third party candidates within the multi-party system of governance. Election result in the past indicate that Percentage of those who answered “Always” or “Most of the time” to the question, “Do you trust the government in Nigeria to do what is right?” keep fluctuating and Political Efficacy of Nigerians indicate the percentage of citizens agreeing with the following statements: “Public officials don’t care what people like me think,” “People like me dont have any say about what the government does,” and “The government is pretty much run by a few big interests looking out for themselves showing that in few month to 2015 general election effective Political Participation will aid some groups and political parties to issue Forms of participation to electorates to participate in; 1. Voting 2. Campaign activity 3. Personal contacting 4. Cooperative activity 5. Unconventional participation 6. Nonparticipation Brainstorm Associates proves that research on time and money as participation resources will indicate how is the character of Nigerian politics and policy affected by socialization and participation patterns? • Presently, Brainstorm Associates observed that Competition in Nigeria House of Representative and Senatorial Districts in the 2011 rate 12% of all races was uncontested (only one major party candidate) and 85% of the contested races, one candidate had a margin of victory greater than 20% of the total vote. 13% of all House of Representative races in the 2011 were the winner’s margin of victory less than 10% of the total vote indicating that citizens will continue to be actively involved in various forms of political participation from mid 2014-2015. We all look up to change in the future that our dream for Nigeria will inspired the African continent and the black race to become important players in the international community. Nigerians heading major international development bodies like the UNDP, International Civil Aviation Organization, United Nations, UNICEF, UNESCO, World Health Organization (WHO), World Meteorological Organization (WMO), World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), World Bank and the African Development Bank etc, not because of acts of charity, but the strengthen of its economy. We dream, of a brighter future for our children…that all Nigerians work to make these dreams a reality. SOURCE: Brainstorm Leadership Academy, Nigeria
Posted on: Thu, 16 Jan 2014 09:28:42 +0000
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