Contending Issues in the Niger Delta Crisis of Nigeria - Journal of ...

Dr. Akpomuvire Mukoro
stolen to grease the functioning of an intensive machinery of rent
seeking political patronage and bare-faced oppression/suppression
etc.
Logically, the argument can be advanced that beginning from the
1950’s when attempt was made to democratize local administration
into modern participatory form of grassroot self government, the
exercise was vitiated by the Omniscient powers of the regional parties.
An account by Dudley (1981:110 – 111) has it that at the end of the
1950s;
… not only had the initial structures been changed,
but party political pressure to have local authorities
function as voting machines for ruling parties had
led to most elected council being suspended and in
their place, “caretaker committees”, composed of
government nominees, substituted. Local
participation had been made to give way to direct
administration by the state government ministries.
By 1975, this pattern had barely changed because at the grassroot,
government remained as remote and removed from daily concern of
the people as ever. In the circumstance, it was difficult to attract,
retain and develop the kind of leadership that would bring about and
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