CHAPTER ONE

 INTRODUCTION

1.1       BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Politics is the most advance and important segment of human and social activities, therefore it is an extricable had to the history of every community. As a result is sufficed to say that there is no history without politics. One universally consistent feature of human society as a dynamic organism is the competition for prestige, status and security which have assumed the subject matter of politics. In every society individual and groups engage in the purposeful struggle to shape the environment and the circumstances that condition their lives. The competition and pursuit of those goals as a political activity, mostly often than not engage the services of a political party.1 This is beside the activity of other handmaid group like the pressure groups in the realism of business, labour and agriculture; civic organization, the institution of the family, school, church, government and countless other auxiliaries to the parties. But above all, the political parties places the most overbearing influence in the struggle for political participation attention and power1.

Going by the above premises, Political power is a derivative of people's consent. Hence a party's legitimacy and acceptance is dependent on public support. And given that this support is more often than not elusive and the public is in reality, a varied group of economic, social and cultural difference with individuals who may be indifferent to the obligation of a citizenship or perhaps ill-informed on the issue of the day. The party constitutes one connecting link between different groups in society and members of the electorate attempting to achieve an organized political action2.

Lere local government is one of the prominent Districts in Zazzau Emirate in Kaduna State. However, Lere has two major political parties which are People’s Democratic Party{PDP }and All Nigeria’s Peoples Party{ ANPP}.

Power struggle is a situation where two people or groups are trying to obtain power or perceived power. In terms of Lere local government its power struggle is between the major tribes. e.g Hausa, Fulani, Kurama, Gure, Kahugh and Amawa. Also some major issue regarding power struggle among the people of Lere local government is Tribal and Religious issues which is playing a vital role in the political struggle in Lere local government area.

However, the focus of this research is to study party politics and power struggle in Lere Local Government between 1999 and 2011. This study is divided into five chapters. Chapter one deals with background to the study, statement of the problem, aims and objectives, significances and justification of the study, theoretical frame work, scope and limitation of the study, methodology and literature review. Chapter two discusses the land and people of Lere local government Area. Chapter three explains the political structure and organization of Lere. Chapter four discusses the major political activities in Lere local government. Finally, chapter five is the summary and conclusion.

1.2       STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM

It appears from evidence that little or no research have been conducted on the same topic and time frame. However, the History of Lere Local Government especially with regards to its political history is being influences by many reasons that to some extent largely depend on politics. Thus the issue of who is indigene and suffer came on board. Perhaps because of this, the study is incomplete as many readers may what it and expect it to be. It should be noted that despite the historicity of the long existed relationship between the various ethnic group in the area e.g. Hausa, Kurama, Gure and the likes of each of them make claims that favour them when highlighting the history of the place.

However, the main issue or problem facing party politics and power struggle in Lere Local Government are the major political partys, Tribal and religious problem which is playing a vital role in the area of study.

1.3       AIM AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study is to examine party politics and power struggle in Lere Local Government area between 1999 and 2011. The broad objectives are as follows--;

To contribute to the political History of the people of Lere Local Government

To examine some of the challenges in party politics and power struggle in the area under study, within the time frame

To highlight the impact of the Local Government on its people will be considered in the following areas. The role of traditional rulers as well as religious leaders.

To understand the nature of inter-group relation among the different ethnic group within the political context of the political struggle especially ethno-religious issues.

To fulfil parts of the requirement for the award of a B.A degree in History of the Kaduna State University.

1.4       SIGNIFICANCE AND JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY

The work on party politics and power struggle in Lere Local Government area from 1999-2011 will serve as a good reference material to political historian and Researcher who are interested in the political history of their Local Government area. As a student of history hoping to change the status quo, this research will serve as a gate opener for further research this justifies the research.

This is where the basic reason for embarking on the work should be appreciated. That is the need of the project and its contribution to the political and religious growth and generally to educational advancement of mankind. This work attempt to bring to light some importance of political development in Lere LGA.  The idea of presenting such a generalised work is important because it accumulate both the three aspect of human endeavours in a single piece to serve as a guide or stepping stone for further research.

1.5       THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

Theory in the real sense enlightens a theory could be sort here to mean a set or body of related proposition that help to explain why events occur the way they do and not the other way round. It is an abstract, conjectural or speculative representation of reality. Therefore, in this research to theorize is to speculate with the aim to understand or explain party politics and power struggles in Lere LGA. Similarly the growth and development of human society have been multi-dimensional ranging from political, social, economical, philosophical and historical dimension.

David held view politics in different way3. In this opinion politics is a practical activity. In his opinion politics is a practical activity about the discourse and struggle over organization of human possibilities and in this sense political science can treated as a study of power. That concept of power relates to political activity to power, to capacity of various agents and organizations.

Another definition of politics is a study of activity of corporation, negotiation and struggle over the use of resources. This definition highlights another very aspect of political science4. There are various types of resources available in any society. the production and distribution of the resources are to be proceeded by definite policy on the part of government or auothority,corporation among various agents involved in the production and distribution of resources.4

Power politics is the ability to influence or control the behaviour of people. Power is seen to who compete with each other since no group or class is able to dominate all other groups or competing interest. Political parties have the right to compete with each other. Looking at the definition of power politics within the context of struggle for power among the people of Lere, we can see that there is a real struggle of power most especially among the major tribes in Lere LGA. These tribes includes--; Hausa, Fulani, Kurama, Gure, Kahugu and Amawa amoung others. The struggle for power between these tribes can be seen in the light of who and who to hold political possitions.5

However, the struggle formula is between major tribes mainly between Hausa and Kurama in Lere LGA with the majority having a role to play. The other minority tribes have been given some inceptive in terms of appointment. The Chairmanship of Lere LGA has become the sole property of the Hausa people, while the Vice Chairman has become the sole property of the Kurama people. Since the Hausa are more predominant than Kurama in terms of population theytry all means to hold unto the Vice Chairmanship no matter what except in 2011 when the Gure peoplewon the position of Vice Chairman.6

Also, the struggle of power amoung the people of Lere LGA can be practically seen between the major political parties that arose from 1999. These parties includes PDP and ANPP. These two parties happen to be the major political parties in Lere LGA. There has been serious struggle between the two political parties on who to be the chairman, secretary and so on.

However, another major issue regarding power struggle among the people of Lere LGA is tribal and religious issues which is playing a vital role in the political struggle in the area. It's clearly seen in Lere LGA that there is a serious struggle for power between Christians and Muslims, who all want to occupy political seat at the expense of the others.7

1.6       SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

The study covers the period between 1999 and 2011. The year 1999 was chosen because it marks the return of civil politics in Nigeria while 2011, marked the first time a person from Southern Kaduna and a Christian to have become the Governor of Kaduna State in the person of Late Sir Patrick Yakowa Ibrahim.  

It appears from evidence that little or no research has been conducted on the same topic within the time frame. This research on party politics only concern with  power struggle in Lere Local Government. The study will restrict its discussion to these two particular aspects: Party Politics and Power struggle. However, it's does not suggest that other aspect of the community [Lere]  are not important such as:- Agriculture, Socio-cultural and Economic development, but the study will limits its self to that of party politics and power struggle in Lere local government area.

1.7       METHODOLOGY

In the course of writting this project, we have employed the use of thematic and chronological approach. In addition, the use of source is very important in order to enable the research to explore ideas and fact very well. It involves the use of written and unwritten sources, oral sources, including eye witness account. While the writting source include Archival materials, official documents, published works, journals, magazines amoung others. More importantly to note, all sources will be carefully selected and thoroughly examine in order to established their authenticity and veracity.

1.8       LITERATURE REVIEW

It would be important at this junction to note that, all existing literatures on the subject matter and within the covered period best of my literatures review as a historian in the making none of them to a larger extend on the area in question. Nevertheless, unknowingly if there is any at base covertly and course cannot supply or provide enough information that can produce this dissertation consequently, there are some relative existing literatures and historical evidence that are meaningful and helpful in reconstructing party politics and power struggle in Lere Local Government area within the limited period [ 1999-2011 ]

Bello Imam in his work titled '' Local Government in Nigeria evolving a third tier government''. He provided an in-depth analysis of local government administration and development patterns in Nigeria. He hold that local government of which the momentum to sustain natural development to be created.  He also acknowledges that Local G

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