Meleki, Adeniyi OluwoleOsaji, Olasupo JacobAjetomobi, Olumuyiwa Aduralere2018-07-202018-07-202017-01http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/1026The paper identifies godfatherism; a form of patron-client relationship as a social political problematic. It has resulted in political insecurity and violence which has great effects on participatory democracy, peace, political security and the consolidation of democracy since independence up to the fourth republic. Reasons for these include the failure of the ‘godsons’ to satisfactorily reward their ‘godfathers’ especially in terms of appointments and sharing of state resources in exchange for various supports received from the godfathers. One noticeable trend since independence till now is the factor of Godfatherism and its relationship with the Godson, which has in a way affected administration and governance in a number of states in the country. This phenomenon has assumed so dangerous monstrous a dimension that it has now become a subject of discourse among scholars and commentators alike. This paper which adopted a historio-analytical approach of study, therefore examines the concept of Godfatherism and its effects on governance in Nigeria. It gives suggestions on how to overcome the menace of Godfatherism in the total polity of the nation.enGodfatherismPolitical AdministrationGovernanceViolencePolitical InsecurityNigeriaArticle