Abdul Raufu Mustapha

Abdul Raufu Mustapha (1954–2017) was a Nigerian political sociologist and scholar of African politics who taught at Ahmadu Bello University, Bayero University and the University of Oxford Quotes Governance is certainly an issue in Nigeria. Mustapha was asked whether ineffective governance was Nigeria's biggest problem. He agreed that governance was a major issue, while distinguishing the problem from simply a lack of individual capacity. The Nigerian elite for various reasons are divided and they do not have a common vision of where they want to lead the country. He was explaining why he regarded governance as a central Nigerian problem. He argued that divisions among political elites and the absence of a shared national vision weakened governance. Lack of a plan to start with, and then the substitution of personal agendas for a collective agenda. He identified the lack of an initial plan and the replacement of collective goals by personal agendas as key problems. It is not so much what is written on paper but what people actually do that we ought to take into account. Mustapha was discussing Nigeria's government development agenda. He argued that assessing government policy should focus on actual conduct rather than simply the promises or programmes written in official documents. Federalism is agreed but the units into which that federalism is broken are in dispute. Mustapha was discussing Nigeria's federal structure and the debate over states, geopolitical zones and other possible constituent units. Many communities are struggling to get their own share—to get a foot in a complex situation they feel unable to control. He argued that competition for access and resources was a major concern for many communities. If the local governments were much closer to the people and were able to function better, there would be improvements in some of the service delivery. Mustapha was discussing the relationship between state and local governments in Nigeria. He argued that stronger and more functional local governments could improve the delivery of public services. Our background is very much there in the way we operate. When you talk about our problems, we must talk about it in terms of our ability to change.. Mustapha made this statement during a 2010 discussion about Nigeria's history, colonial legacy and continuing political problems. He argued that Nigeria's historical background remained relevant but emphasised the country's capacity to change. Despite the gloom, as it were, there are pockets of efforts across the board that can also be supported. He meant that the country's difficulties did not mean that positive initiatives were absent. Category:Academics from Nigeria