Criminal Politics: Violence, “Godfathers” and Corruption in Nigeria

Human Rights Watch days later, his legs were bandaged and bruised. “My leg was
not broken but the pain was so much I thought it was broken,” he said. 75
Justifying and Taking Violence for Granted
Many Nigerian politicians see violence—both as an offensive weapon and as a
component of personal security—as a necessary part of any political campaign. As
the traditional ruler of Awka town in Anambra State put it in an interview with Human
Rights Watch, “Here [in Anambra] elections are connected to how much money you
have put into your ability to intimidate others.” 76
Some politicians argue that they must maintain some capacity to unleash violence
as a measure of self-defense. Senator Ben Obi—who ran as the opposition Action
Congress’ Vice-Presidential candidate in the 2007 elections—explained to Human
Rights Watch during an interview at his home in Awka during the campaign that:
Earlier I had 20 boys here to see me. If anyone tries to attack me my
boys will unleash terror…I help them to secure a little patronage from
government or to start small businesses…It is not possible to have a
campaign without your boys. If you are around, they too must be
around. 77
In practice the line between self-defense and violent aggression is blurred at best.
Senator Obi, for example, told Human Rights Watch that during an unsuccessful
attempt to strip him of the Senate seat to which he was elected in 2003, he told one
of the alleged architects of the move against him that “If you come to Awka you will
not leave here alive. Because I will not hold my boys back. They would skin him
alive.” 78
75 Human Rights Watch interview, Iseyin, Oyo State, April 27, 2007.
76 Human Rights Watch interview with Gibson N. Nwosu, Eze Ozu of Awka, Awka, February 13, 2007.
77 Human Rights Watch interview with Senator Ben Obi, Awka, February 12, 2007.
78 Ibid.
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