The political economy of an oligarchy: the case of Kano's bourgeoisie

Abstract

This paper is an attempt to illustrate the relative importance of class politics for the development of entrepreneurs. To do this, it will examine the development of indigenous entrepreneurs in the manufacturing sector of Kano. This exercise will show that entry into this sector of Kano's state economy is determined by one's access to certain services crucial for successful performance. Access to these services and privileges is in turn determined by the structure of relationships to which one belongs in the society. This entry process could be difficult, if not impossible, without contacts which are facilitated by this class affiliation. This class and its attendant behaviors have had a serious impact on the socio-economic development of Kano, and on indigenous entrepreneurs in particular. For clear presentation, this paper is divided into three parts. The first section traces the evolution of a class of oligarchs who control the economy of Kano, whose activities therefore affect the pattern of investment in the various sectors of the economy, and thus the development of entrepreneurs in these sectors. This survey starts from the nineteenth century and progresses into the twentieth. The second part of the paper dwells on the role of this class in the political economy of Kano since the 195Os. Here, a thorough examination is made of how these people manipulate policies and administrative machineries for their own benefit and how such machination determines or affects the pattern of investment· in the economy in general. The final section examines some of the consequences of such socio-economic structure on economic development, the indigenous entrepreneurs in particular.