i THE ROLE OF THE CHURCHES IN COMBATTING CORRUPTION AMONG POLITICAL LEADERS IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA. BY ORJI, DANIEL ORJI PG/Ph.D/05/40383. DEPARTMENT OF RELIGION AND CULTURAL STUDIES, FACULTY OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA. MARCH, 2011 ii TITLE PAGE THE ROLE OF THE CHURCHES IN COMBATTING CORRUPTION AMONG POLITICAL LEADERS IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA. A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF RELIGION AND CULTURAL STUDIES, FACULTY OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA, IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEGREE (Ph.D) IN RELIGION BY ORJI, DANIEL ORJI PG/Ph.D/05/40383. DEPARTMENT OF RELIGION AND CULTURAL STUDIES, FACULTY OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES ,UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA. MARCH, 2011 1 CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the candidate, Orji, Daniel Orji with registration number PG/Ph.D/05/40383 has duly effected the corrections suggested by the External Examiner. I therefore, forward his thesis to you for onward transmission to the School of Postgraduate Studies. Thank you. ___________________ ___________________ REV.FR. DR.H.C. ACHUNIKE REV. PROF. A.U. AGHA AG. HEAD OF DEPARTMENT SUPERVISOR 2 DECLARATION ORJI, DANIEL ORJI a postgraduate student of the Department of Religion and Cultural Studies with registration number PG/Ph.D/05/40383 has satisfactorily completed all the requirements for the course and research work for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN RELIGION. The work embodied in this thesis is original and has not been submitted in part or full for any other degree or diploma of this University or any other University. ____________________ _____________________ REV.FR. DR. H.C. ACHUNIKE REV. PROF. A.U. AGHA AG. HEAD OF DEPARTMENT SUPERVISOR 3 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I sincerely acknowledge and appreciate God for his enabling grace and provisions to my family throughout the time of study. I am also grateful to my supervisor A.U. Agha, for his invaluable academic contributions, direction, sincerity, patience and encouragement. My thanks and deep appreciation go to H.C Achunike, Head of Department, O.U. Kalu, now late, for his very helpful input all the way from Chicago through e-mail communication. The history of my academic success would not be complete, if mention is not made of the priceless contributions of my academic mentors and motivators - M.I. Okwueze, C.O.T Ugwu, E.N Chinwokwu, , E.A Ituma, S.O Onyeidu, A.N.O Ekwunife. I am also grateful to the following for their contributions towards the success of this work - Ulu, Kalu Oko and Ogbonna,S.Omenuko sons in the Lord who painstakingly read through the work, , Ogbonna Mbah who typeset the work.. Others are Z.A. Ubanu now late, and his wife, B.B. Fakae and his wife, W. Onu and his wife, U. Udonsi and his wife, G.C. Ebere and his wife, O.C Sabeze, S A. Ama, M.O Okocha, M.E Ahuama, A.O Okoro, I.O Nwogwugwu, I.O Ore, Dimgba Kalu, and Ibe K Udonsi. I sincerely thank them for being the prime human factors in my academic achievement. I am also immensely indebted to my wife Hannah Orji who is a prototype of the virtous woman in Proverb. 31:10-31, she is a wife of noble character. She has been watching over the affairs of our household and has not allowed us eat the bread of idleness. Let her reward be many. Orji, Daniel Orji.(REV) Department of Religion, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. March 2011. 4 ABSTRACT The rate at which corruption spread among political leaders in Anambra state has frayed nerves and subjected the people to fear and trepidation. Avarice, greed and the get-rich quick syndrome have been identified as major causative factors. Hence the topic, “The role of the Churches in combating Corruption among Political leaders in Anambra State, Nigeria. The methods of data collection for the study include both primary and secondary sources. Primary data were obtained through oral interview. For the secondary sources the study relied on academic books, journal articles, newspapers, magazines, unpublished project works and periodicals, including internet materials. The historical and descriptive analytical approach was adopted in the analyzing of the data because it entails the interpretative understanding of the substance of various forms of communication, whether written, oral or symbolic. In the result, the work revealed that there are overt causes of corruption among political leaders in Anambra state arising from avarice and greed. This has affected the well-being of individuals and retarded progress in the state. The study also established that embezzlement of public fund, rigging of elections, kidnapping of political opponents, thuggery and politically motivated killings formed the core of activities of some of the political leaders. It was also discovered that the church has used preaching, prayer, social action, exemplary lifestyle and sacrifice as strategies against corruption. In conclusion, there is a fundamental and innate relationship between the Church and the State. The Church is playing her expected role, thereby challenging political leaders to engage in the activities that are for the interest of social progress in Anambra state. 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS Title Page …………………………………………………………………….. i Certification ………………………………………………………………….. ii Declaration ….……………………………………………………………….. iii Acknowledgement …………………..……………………………………….. iv Abstract …………………………………………………………………….... v Table of Contents…………………………………………………………….. vi Map of Anambra State ………………………………………………………. ix List of Abbreviations ………………………………………………………… x CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the Study ……………………………………………... 1 1.2 Statement of Research Problem ………………………………............ 6 1.3 Purpose of the Study …………………………………………….......... 7 1.4 Significance of the Study ……………………………………………... 7 1.5 Scope of the Study ……………………………………………………. 8 1.6 Research Methodology ……………………………………………….. 9 1.7 Definition of Terms …………………………………………………… 9 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW 2.0 Introduction …………………………………………………….……... 14 2.1 Corruption: A Historical Overview in Nigeria ……………………...... 14 2.2 The Nexus between Church and Politics ……………………………... 24 2.3 The Nature of Corruption …………………………………………….. 28 2.4 Corruption and Rigging of Election in Anambra State ………………. 39 2.5 Efforts at Fighting Corruption in Nigeria …………………………….. 46 CHAPTER THREE: THE POLITICAL HISTORY OF ANAMBRA STATE 3.1 History of Creation of the Present Anambra State …………………….. 52 3.2 Emergence of Political Crisis in Anambra State ………………………. 57 3.3 The Political Regime of Ezeife ………………………………………….. 58 3.4 The Political Regime of Mbadinuju ……………………………………... 59 6 3.5 Political Regime of Ngige …………..………………………………….... 61 3.6 Peter Obi’s ongoing Regime …………………………………………... 76 CHAPTER FOUR: THE CHURCH AND POLITICAL LEADERS IN ANAMBRA STATE 4.1 Church’s Teachings on the Apostolic Governance in Anambra State .. 80 4.2 The Christian Faith and Politics: a Reflection on People’s Welfare …. 85 4.3 Church and Politics: The Indispensable Agents of Unity in the Society ………………………. ………………………………………... 87 4.4 Church in Politics: Rationalizing the Emergence of Liberation Theology ………………………. ……………………………………... 91 4.5 The Role of the Church in Anambra state Political System ………….. 98 CHAPTER FIVE: CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA 5.1 Causes of Corruption in Nigeria ………….. ……………………...…... 101 5.1.1 Get Rich Quick …………….... ………………………………………... 101 5.1.2 Moral Decadence ………………………………………………...…… 103 5.1.3 Manipulation of Panel by Government ……………………………….. 105 5.2 Corruption and Impunity of Electoral Malpractices ………………...… 106 5.3 Politicians and Godfathers in Anambra State ………………………… 117 5.4 Political Godfathers and Funding of Violence in Nigeria ……………. 127 5.5 The Effects of Corruption …………………………………….............. 138 CHAPTER SIX: THE RESILIENCE OF CORRUPTION IN ANAMBRA STATE 6.1 Government Inability to Fight Corruption ……………………………. 148 6.2 The Passive Role of the Church in Fighting Against Corruption .…… 156 6.3 The Church and Corruption: An Exposition on Materialism and Simony ……………………………………………………………….. 159 6.4 Socio-economic and Political Decay: A Challenge to the Church …… 166 6.5 The Way Forward ……………………………………………………. 170 7 CHAPTER SEVEN: SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION 7.1 Summary of the Findings …………………………………………….. 172 7.2 Contributions to Knowledge …………………………………………. 174 7.3 Recommendations ……………………………………………………. 176 7.4 Suggestions for Further Study ……………………………………….. 179 7.5 Conclusion ….………………………………………………………… 180 Bibliography ……………………………………………….…………. 183 Appendix …………………………………………………..…………. 197 8 List of Abbreviations ABBREVIATIONS MEANING A.P.G.A All Progressive Grand Alliance B.P.I Bribe Payers Index C.A.N Christian Association of Nigeria C.B.N Central Bank of Nigeria C.C.G Christian Council of Ghana C.P.I Corruption Perception Index E.F.C.C Economic and Financial Crimes Commission E.U.E.O.M European Union Election Observation Mission F.E.S.T.A.C Festival of Black African Arts and Culture G.B.C Ghana Bishops Conference I.C.P.C Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offenses Commission I.N.E.C Independence National Electoral Commission J.T.F Joint Task Force N.A.F.D.A.C National Agency for Food and Drug Abuse Control N.A.P.E.P National Poverty Eradication Programme N.A.P.T.I.P National Agency for Prevention of Trafficking in Persons N.B.A Nigerian Bar Association N.C.S Nigerian Customs Services N.D.L.E.A National Drug Law Enforcement Agency N.D.P.V.F Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force N.D.V Niger Delta Vigilante N.D.I National Democratic Institute N.O.A National Orientation Agency N.P.N National Party of Nigeria N.U.R.T.W National Union of Road Transport Workers O.B.T Obtained By Tricks P.D.P Peoples Democratic Party T.I Transparency International T.M.G Transition Monitoring group U.N.N University of Nigeria Nsukka UNI.PORT University of Port Harcourt U.P.E Universal Primary Education Scheme W.A.I.C War Against Indiscipline Commission W.A.I War Against Indiscipline 9 CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the Study In Nigeria, bribery and corruption are hydra-headed twins that have eaten deep into the fabrics of the society. Starting from the colonial era of Nigeria, bribery and corruption have made steady and seemingly unstoppable progress up to the present.