PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATION OF NIGERIAN POLITICS AND PARADOXICAL ROLE OF PHILOSOPHY IN REMAKING NIGERIAN NATION
Abstract
For decades, Nigerian politics is subject of national discourse. This is as it negatively affects governance; creates hardship and poor human condition, and threatens national existence. Interrogating these situations, some scholars argue that Nigerian politics is poor owing to its lack of philosophy and philosophical application of policies in governance. These scholars claim that philosophers are largely removed from governance, policy formulation and implementation. But, has Nigerian politics not been radiating ideas that constitute philosophy? Are philosophers really removed from Nigerian politics and governance? In critical response to these questions, this paper analytically examines Nigerian politics and governance to determine its philosophical foundation and the role philosophy can play in remaking Nigerian nation. The study admits that Nigerian politics is poor; but discovers a paradox glaring in the fact that the same philosophy that is negatively destroying Nigerian State through non masses oriented thoughts and ideas could remake Nigerian nation through thoughts and ideas that would foster quality politics and human quality existence. The study therefore explores the negative and positive philosophies that characterize Nigerian politics and governance, and reveals the negligence of the latter owing to its non egoistic end. The paper notes that philosophy can remake Nigerian nation when quality philosophy is applied in politics and governance for the benefit of the greatest number of people. This application is possible when politics in Nigeria become service driven and less attractive, when selfless thinkers involve in policy making and implementation of policies, and when political activities are guided by people oriented laws.
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Abu, S.O. (1997). Privatization and Development. Palgrave Publisher.
Aghamelu, F., and Ani, E. (2009). Francis Fukuyama on Democracy and the End of History. In The Humanities and Nigeria’s Democratic Experience, edited by Chiegboka, A. B. C., Nwadigwe, C. E and Umezinwa, E. C., 92-97. Nimo, Nigeria: Rex Charles & Patrick.
Anoje-eke, J. (2018). A Nation at Crossroads: The Way Forward. Enugu, Nigeria: Catholic
Diocesan Printing Press.
Appadorai, A. (2004). The Substance of Politics. New Delhi, India: Oxford University Press.
Areji, A. C. (2005). Ethical Subjectivism and the Problem of Governance in Reply to Civil
Society: A Critical Reflection on Nigeria’s Third Republic..UCHE Journal of the Department of Philosophy University of Nigeria, Nsukka 12, 53-59.
Asiegbu, M. F. (2011). Philosophy and Sustainable Development. In The Humanities and
Sustainable Development, edited by Chiegboka, A.B.C, Utoh-Ezeajugh, T. C., and.
Ogene, M. S., 101-11). Nimo, Nigeria: Rex Charles & Patrick.
Bakare, O. M. (2011). International Financial Corporation’s Neo-Liberal Privatization Policy
meets Privatization Drives of the New Post Military Nigerian Neo-Colonial Capitalist
Elites. In The Humanities and Sustainable Development, edited by Chiegboka, A. B.C.,
Utoh-Eaeajugh, T.C., and Ogene, M. S., 21-55. Nimo, Nigeria: Rex Charles & Patrick.
Chimakonam, J. O. (2017). Conversationalism as an emerging method of thinking in and beyond African philosophy. Acta Academica 49(2): 11-33. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.18820/24150479/ aa49i2.1
Chinweuba, G E. (2019a). Migration and Conflict in Nigeria: The Socio-Political Nexus. In Fundamentals of Peace and Conflict Management, edited by Ezeugwu, E., and Udabah, C., 60-68. Enugu, Nigeria: His Glory Publications.
Chinweuba, G. E. (2019b). “Philosophy and Governance in Contemporary Africa”, LASU Journal of Philosophy 2(1), 95-108. www.lajop.com
Ejeh, P.C. (2009). Philosophy and Logic Made Easy. Enugu: Computer Edge Pubs.
Elijah, O. J., & Ette, E. E. (2018). Political Education and the Sustainability of Democracy in Nigeria. Sapientia Journal of Philosophy 9, 23-30.
Eminue, O. (2001). Introduction to Political Science. Calabar, Nigeria: Clear Lines Publications.
Etuk, U. (2000). “Implementation of Laws in Nigeria, What Can the Philosophers do?” WAJOPS:West African Journal of Philosophical Studies 3,71-87.
Evans, P. B. (1989). Predatory, Developmental, and other Apparatuses: A Comparative Analysis of the Third World State. Sociological Forum 4(4), 561-82.
Ezeugwu, C, E., and Anichebe, O. (2008). The Electoral Process and the Survival of Democracy in Nigeria. In Nigerian Democracy & Global Democracy, edited by Odimegwu, I.,71- 83. Awka, Nigeria: Fab Educational Books.
Forsyth, F. (1982). The Biafran Story. London, England: Hudahuda Publishers.
Fukuyama, F. (2012). The Origins of Political Order. London, England: Profile Books.
Gadamer, H. Georg. (1867). Kleine Schriften 1. Tuebingen, Germany: J. C. B. Mohr.
Jouvenel, B. (1957). Sovereignty: An Inquiry into the Political Good. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press.
Magstadt, T.M. (2009). Understanding Politics, Ideas, Institutions, and Issues. Belmont, USA: Wadsworth.
Neumann, F. (1950). Approaches to the Study of Political Power. Political Science Quarterly LXV(2), 162.
Odey, J. (2002). Democracy: Our Lofty Dreams and Crazy Ambitions. Enugu, Nigeria: Snaap.
Odimegwu, I. (2008). Philosophic Foundation of Politics. Amawbia, Nigeria: Lumos
Oguejiofor, J. O. (2006a). Welcome Address. Philosophy and Praxis in Africa, 1-9.
Oguejiofor, J. O. (1998). Introduction. In Philosophy and Public Affairs, edited by Oguejiofor, O., i-xix. Enugu, Nigeria: Delta.
Okafor, F. U. (1998). “Law, Democracy and Public Affairs”. In Law Democracy and Public
Affairs, edited by Oguejiofor, O., 81. Enugu, Nigeria: Delta.
Onuigbo, S. (2005). Africa: The Future is Bleak”. In Essays in Philosophy, edited by Umezinwa, C., 20-36. Nsukka, Nigeria: Afro-Orbis Publishing Company.
Scrutton, R. (1995). A history of Modern Philosophy. New York, USA: Routledge classics.
Stumpf, S. E. (1994). Philosophy History & Problems. New York, USA: McGraw-Hill Inc.
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2023 Gregory Emeka Chinweuba (PhD)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
ISSN (Print): 2695-2319
ISSN (Online): 2695-2327
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.