Political Clientelism and Rural Development in South-Western Nigeria

• Published in: Africa (London. 1928) Vol. 80; no. 3; pp. 453 - 472
• Main Authors: Omobowale, Ayokunle Olumuyiwa, Olutayo, Akinpelu Olanrewaju
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01-08-2010; Edinburgh University Press
• Subjects: Africa; African Studies; Clientelism; Communities; Community; Economic changes and development; Economics; Elections; Ethnology; Local government; Loyalty; Morphological source materials; Political appointments; Political campaigns; Political elections; Political parties; Political patronage; Politicians; Politics; Public officials; Retirement communities; Rural areas; Rural development; Social relations. Intercultural and interethnic relations. Collective identity; Social structure and social relations; Speaking of memory and local politics; Nigeria; West Africa; Africa; Clientelism; Rural development; Southwest; Association; Underdevelopment; Political class; Development project
• ISSN: 0001-9720; 1750-0184
• DOI: 10.3366/afr.2010.0305

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).