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Political Clientelism and Rural Development in South-Western Nigeria

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 May 2011

Ayọkunle Olumuyiwa Ọmọbọwale  and
Akinpẹlu Ọlanrewaju Olutayọ
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Abstract

In spite of the universality of clientelism, it is often seen as a peculiar aspect of Third World politics, one which inevitably stifles development. This study examines clientelistic relationships in south-western Nigeria and their possible impact on rural development, with a special focus on Ibadan. It finds that rural clients attract the attention of the political class to promote the exchange of goods for loyalty through associations that afford clients a sort of cohesive power and a common front, the basis of their relevance in the political-clientelistic chain. This clientelistic chain also serves as the channel through which development projects are conceived and implemented. But since the projects provided only serve symbolic purposes, they easily collapse: clients may have the opportunity of changing patrons, but they remain subservient to the political/economic elite. Thus rural underdevelopment persists in spite of a continual inflow of development projects (and goods).

En dépit de son universalité, le clientélisme est souvent considéré comme un aspect propre à la politique du tiers-monde et qui fait inévitablement barrage au développement. Cette étude examine les relations de clientélisme dans le sud-ouest du Nigeria et leur impact possible sur le développement rural, en s'intéressant particuliérement à Ibadan. Elle constate que les clients ruraux attirent l'attention de la classe politique pour promouvoir l'échange de biens contre de la loyauté à travers des associations qui procurent aux clients une sorte de pouvoir cohésif et un front commun, la base de leur pertinence dans la chaîne politico-clientéliste. La chaîne clientéliste sert également de voie de conception et de mise en oeuvre de projets de développement. Or, ces projets ne servant qu'à des fins symboliques, ils échouent facilement : les clients peuvent avoir l'opportunité de changer de patrons, mais ils restent inféodés à l'élite politico-économique. Ce sous-développement rural persiste en dépit d'un afflux continu de projets de développement (et de biens).

Type
Research Articles
Information
Africa , Volume 80 , Issue 3 , August 2010 , pp. 453 - 472
Copyright
Copyright © International African Institute 2010

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