There is an assumption of what a political party is and what it is meant to do in all political systems today, especially after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the emergence of democratic transition in Eastern and Central Europe and in Africa. Political parties were strategic tools for bringing about the change or transition from a one party regime or military regime or apartheid regime or strife torn country to a competitive political order. A political party is a social group defined by Herbert Simon as a system of interdependent activities characterized by a high degree of rational direction of behavior towards end that are objects of common acknowledgment and expectation.(1) It is different from other social groups, such as labor unions and other associations because of the unique functions a political party performs for the system, such as organizing for public opinion, communicating demands to the center of governmental decision-making and political recruitment. This is why a political party is taken as a useful index of the level political development.(2) Hence the relationship between a viable party system and a democratic order is axiomatic. The topic of this paper is to assess Party Politics in Nigeria since 1999, i.e. after two and half years with one and half to go in the first term of four years. Does Nigeria since 1999 have a viable party system? Does Nigeria since 1999 have a viable democratic order? Is there any prospect of having a viable party system? Is there any prospect of a democratic order? What are the factors militating against a viable party system? One could also ask what are the factors impeding the full realization of democratic order in Nigeria? These are some of the questions that we would have to examine in this paper. I do not want to fall into the category of those Nigerians in Diaspora who are accused by the folks back home of making comments on the politics of Nigeria without facts. Some even accuse Nigerians in Diaspora of prejudice. I would want to be corrected on facts. In my interpretation and prognosis, certainly I harbor no prejudice, because there is no reason for it. I am aware that parties should possess certain characteristics and that they are meant to perform certain functions, hence I shall try in this paper to use many yardsticks to assess the role of political parties in Nigeria since 1999. My conclusion is that the political parties in Nigeria are still in search of a role, hence since 1999 the role of political parties is still fluid. In many cases the so-called political parties since 1999 have become a major part of the problem in Nigeria. I came across political parties in Nigeria from three aspects of my life. I studied political parties as apolitical scientist.I organized a political party andused it to seek political power as apartisanpoliticianand I initiated and managed political parties and those who used political parties for seeking political power as apolicy maker.These aspects of my life shall affect my appreciation of the political parties in Nigeria.
Posted on: Sun, 31 Aug 2014 02:59:52 +0000
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