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Nepotism
Nigeria at the crossroads of nepotism
Michael Uchebuaku
Lagos
Nepotism is variously defined as favoritism shown by somebody in power to relatives and friends, especially in appointing them to positions of power, profit or influence; or as an unfair practice in which people in power give positions in a government or organisation to their relatives or friends, rather than to any individual who is well-qualified. And this can lead to inefficiency in the functioning of the government or organization, since hiring is based on personal connections, rather than ability or merit.
In the main, nepotism means favouring relatives because of their relationship rather than because of their abilities. This ancient anti-democratic cultural practice now seems to have become more pronounced in recent times. Previously, the news sailed across the land that the PDP National Chairman, Ahmadu Ali, was involved in a scandal regarding appointments to the boards of federal parastatals and agencies. The PDP chairman was said to have abused due process by distributing patronage to members of his family to the detriment of merit and competence required for the jobs.
Col. Ahmadu Ali (rtd) was said to have placed his wife and son on the boards of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigeria Railways Corporation (NRC). Mrs. Mary Ali, was reportedly appointed chairman of NPA while Ali Ogala Adah, believed to be his son, was named member of the NRC.
The backlash of this news led to the suspension of the NPA board by a statement, which came from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Ufot Ekaette.
In his reaction, then, the PDP Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George, supported Ali in a manner that suggested there was nothing wrong in the appointment of the National Chairman's family members because they were PDP members who worked for the success of the party.
George reportedly said: "The issue of note is this, Board appointment is a recognition of your political activity and so if the people (Ali's wife and son) are politicians, what is wrong there? Is this the first time such a thing is happening in Nigeria? We have had Mrs. Anenih here who is a known politician and the leader (Chief Tony Anenih) is here who is also a politician.
"Anybody who is an active politician, who has done well on the field, it is symbiotic relationship to recognise such person in that area. That is all there is in this Board thing. I don't want to make it look as if the heavens are going to fall. People are just looking for some faults now to draw PDP down.”
Analysts say that George himself may have been guilty of the same fault, and so by trying to play down Ali’s perceived misdeeds, he may also save himself from great embarrassment if exposed. Analysts say George may also have misused his office to include his wife on the board of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA). They also claim that George included the name of one of his in-laws into the board of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).
Other members of the PDP executive such as the national secretary of the Party, Chief Ojo Maduekwe are also believed to have brought nepotism to bear negatively on governance. Sources claim that Maduekwe may have influenced the nomination of his sister-in-law, Mrs. Nnenna Anigbo, into the board of the FCDA.
Lately, it has been reported that the Enugu State Governor, Chimaroke Nnamani, replaced the nominees of the Senate President, Ken Nnamani with his relatives on the boards of federal parastatals
Five of the governor’s relations are said to be on the board of various federal governemnt agencies.
It was reported that Chimaroke Nnamani replaced the names of three nominees of Ken Nnamani, who are Nana Ogbodo (Federal Housing Authority, FHA) and Sam Mba (National Institute of Horticulture) – with those of his relatives.
Ogbodo’s name was substituted with Chikwendu Nnamani, the governor’s cousin, and that of Mba was removed and yet to be replaced.
Ken’s third nominee, Tony Okam, said to have been nominated as the Chairman of the board of the National Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), was replaced with O. Nwajie.
Governor Chimaroke Nnamani is also said to have had five nominees already, all of whom are said to have family ties to him.
They reportedly include Chinero Nwaigwe (his elder sister), Anambra Motor Manufacturing Company (ANAMMCO) board Chairman; Samson Nnamani (uncle), Small and Medium Scale Industry Development Authority (SMSIDA) board member; Chikwendu Nnamani (cousin), FHA board member.
Others are Uchenna Nnamani (cousin), Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) board member; Sam Ejiofor (nephew), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) board member and Austin Nwigwe (in-law and husband of Chinero Nwigwe), National Metallurgical Development Centre (MDC) board Chairman.
The Enugu governor is also accused by some indigenes of the state of running the state with his relatives.It is said that his mother in-law, Kate Enoh, heads both Nkanu Central Council and the board of Enugu State Housing Development Corporation.
Other alleged relatives of the governor on boards are Justina Nnamani (his uncle’s wife), Enugu State Primary Education Board (SPEB) Chairman; Oko Nwabiem (Nee Nnamani), Pilgrims Welfare Board Chairman and Chinasa Nnamani, Enugu State Health Systems Fund Director.
Political watchers point out that the PDP’s party fraternity may have ultimately broken down to give way to crass nepotism. Ordinarily, it is traditional political practice to bless faithful party members with public appointments as a reward for the roles they played in the development of the party and its victory at the polls. But the exception to the rule of political tradition is vivid when such appointments are created without taking into consideration merit and competence in the making of choices for appointments. And because democratic culture gives ample room for fraternity in intra-party relationships, crass nepotism in PDP politics first represents a breakdown of party brotherhood.
Even if the relatives appointed are members of the PDP, the question many ask borders on the yardstick for judging merit and competency that may have been used in the making of such appointments. Many wonder what Chief Hope Uzodinma would be doing as chairman of the board of National Animal Production Research Institute, Zaria. Dr. Eustace Ejikeme of the Igbo Leadership Forum (ILF), was quoted as saying that appointments not based on competence such as that of Uzodinma "make a mockery of the whole exercise because considering his public antecedence and relevance to expertise in the area of appointment, his case is no doubt, a square peg in a round hole."
Besides, many wonder if the relatives of those in authority were the only ones who voted for them in elections or contributed to the development or success of the party, to deserve being singled out for reward at the expense of others in the PDP and among the electorate. Therein lies rampant claims of marginalization and violation of human rights through acts of discrimination brought about by nepotism.
Indeed, some members of the PDP NWC were reported to have confronted the party’s national chairman and the deputy national chairman, south with allegations of marginalization in the recent past. The aggrieved party members are believed to have been irked by the degree of discrimination that exists within the party.
Thus, many now believe that the PDP structure and processes have been so undermined by bad eggs within the party that the PDP now approximates as a structure that promotes discrimination and its attendant human rights violations.
Many say that discrimination and rights violations within the PDP may have had and, still, be having a negative impact on Nigeria’s bitter human rights record since 1999. As one analyst put it: “Injustice within the ruling party results in injustice in governance.” The universal declaration of human rights clearly frowns at any form of discrimination which borthers nepotism (the consideration of family members first before others in appointments).
A part of the declaration reads: "All are equal before the law and are entitled to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination." UDHR, Article 7.
Political watchers also appear bothered about what leads to discrimination within the PDP, which in turn acts as incitement to nepotism. Most agree that nepotism belongs to the autocratic or military era, and that the resurgence of crass nepotism in the Nigerian democratic experiment is largely due to the presence of low principles of greed, avarice and self-promotion that invariably embody the rampant corruption that appears endemic to the nation.
“A situation where everybody is corrupt and wants to enrich himself without thinking of the misery he will put others through in so doing, will always lead to discrimination. And so, those highly placed corrupt officials will always prefer their family members before their party members. Members of their families will always be the first among equals in the politics and economics of corruption,” says Bernard Temofeh, a political scientist.
Of course, most disagree with the politics and economics of corruption in Nigeria, and find it difficult to say if the majority of Nigerians will ever see the dividends of democracy when it appears that only relatives of public officers and party officials are privileged to be conferred with the dividends of democracy. In today’s Nigeria, dividends of democracy seem to be for only those who have their relatives in high places, and the ordinary citizens find themselves only at the mercy of their prayers to God for a better life encapsulated in social welfare and social justice, which do not seem a priority for those in government.
Effect of nepotism on governance
Analysts aver that competition among nepotistic selections constitute a great obstacle in the wheels of governance. To buttress the point, they point out that in the past, several attempts to constitute the boards of some federal parastatals and agencies have failed due to competition among highly placed government and party officers who submitted parallel lists of relatives and cronies for appointment.
Since the inception of the Obasanjo administration in 1999, rumours have existed severally about the list of those appointed being ready, only for the eventual announcement to be postponed due to intense politicking. The result of it all is that the new boards being appointed less than two years to the end of the administration. And even now, controversy may lead to another round of delay in the inauguration of the boards.
In addition, efficient, effective and transparent governance, which is meant to be promoted through the existence of the boards along with the executive management of the parastatals and agencies, might be harmed since much may not be expected from the board members as they would only be there to serve the interests of their political godfathers or highly placed relatives. In fact, the jobs of the boards might be intensely hampered because of the clash of interests that is bound to exist among the board members.
In summary, the PDP and the nation at large, may not only be held hostage by contending factions but also by those who accommodate the party’s processes and their positions of authority to suit their private nepotistic ends. And as long as the definition of corruption in Nigeria is expanded to include amoral principles like nepotism, certificate forgery, election rigging, bribery, recalcitrant anti-people policies, and other factors that war against the inculcation of true democratic culture, many say that pro-people politicking and its resultant dividends of democracy may remain hidden from the view of the masses.
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UP NIGERIA!!! 
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