Implications of Daba Politics on Democratic Process in Kano State (1999-2015)

Abstract

Daba Politics is the political pattern by use of political vanguards (Yan Banga) in order to give political support and protection to their party officials and their political aspirants especially during campaigns and other political process. It has become a common feature of party politics in Kano since 1950's during the First Republic through the second republic and in the fourth republic. However, the resurgence of daba politics in Kano state characterized by the deliberate use of violence and terror especially against political opponents and general electorates in the fourth republic has posed negative threats to the democratic process in the state, thereby infringing upon the political and constitutional rights of the legitimate voters and decent political aspirants in the state. This paper attempts an empirical explanation of the factors behind the persistence of daba politics and the ways by which it affects the democratic process in the state. A survey technique was adopted as methodology of the paper. The paper discovers that poverty and unemployment coupled with illiteracy are the major factors that directly influence daba politics in Kano. In essence these factors nurture, reinforce and sustain the persistence of the menace. The paper also discovers that under the current fourth republic politics in Kano state has been conceived by political thugs (Yan Daba) as an opportunity for material and financial gain, as well as means of establishing connection with people in high position like governors, local government chairmen, and commissioners, among others. Thus, daba politics has become independent profession of its own in Kano state, through which patron/client relationship is established between the politicians and Yan Daba , where the latter offer service in form of violence and the former purchase through exchange for material and financial resources. Thus, the paper advances the argument that the higher the financial expectation attached to the service of Yan Daba especially during election, the higher the level of political violence in the state. Hence, concludes that daba politics has posed a very serious negative threat to the entire democratic process in the state. Thus, the paper recommends that there should be a wider employment generation programme, through which Daba politics will be substituted with the decent jobs and employment. There should also be a law that will strictly ban thuggery and daba politics in Kano state. There should be provision for alternative security guards for political aspirants, through involvement of the private security company.