• The polity of a country refers to its political system and the way power is distributed among different institutions and actors.
• Governance refers to the processes and systems by which a country is governed and how decisions are made and implemented.
• The relationship between polity and governance is complex, as the political system of a country can have a significant impact on how its governance functions.
• For example, in a democratic system, power is distributed among different branches of government and is ultimately accountable to the people through free and fair elections.
• This form of polity can promote good governance by ensuring transparency, accountability, and participation in decision-making processes.
• On the other hand, in an authoritarian or centralized system, power is concentrated in the hands of a single leader or ruling elite who may use it to their personal benefit rather than the common good.
• This type of polity can hinder good governance by limiting citizen participation and suppressing dissent.
• A historical example of this can be seen in the governance of Nigeria during the 1980s under military dictator Ibrahim Babangida who ruled with an authoritarian style, suppressing political opposition and dissent, creating obstacles to good governance.

Overall, the polity of a country can have a significant impact on the effectiveness of its governance. A democratic polity with checks and balances may lead to more transparent and accountable governance, while an authoritarian polity may lead to corruption and abuse of power. Therefore, it is important to have a strong polity that supports good governance practices for the benefit of citizens.