An Assessment of Politics Without Bitterness, Conflict and War as A Path Forward in Nigerian Politics

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume V, Issue XI, November 2021 | ISSN 2454–6186

An Assessment of Politics Without Bitterness, Conflict and War as A Path Forward in Nigerian Politics

Michael Ikechukwu INEH-DUMBI
Department of International Relations and Diplomacy (IRD), College of Social and Management Science (CSMS), Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Nigeria

Abstract: Since the emergence of Nigeria as an independent political entity, the nation has gone through an evolutionary system of politics of bitterness, conflict and war: starting from the; first republic to the current Fourth Republic, (Ayemere, 2015). Through the nurturing of such practices within the Nigerian political scene over the decades, it has transformed such abnormal practices in our society to the norm in conducting politics, (Boraine, 1999). Of note, is that the driver of such politics of bitterness, conflict and war especially in Nigeria can be situated in the corruption of the meaning of Kwame Nkrumah adage of “Seek Ye First the Political Kingdom and every other Thing will be added onto you” into using politics as a medium for the enrichment and self-serving interest of the political elite, (Bonsu, 2016). Also supporting such is the professionalization of politics as a vocation which ensure there is a difference between the political class and the general public, (Allen, n.d). This gap leads to an erosion in the mindset of the political class of the binding element that ties them ethically and morally into capitalizing on their roles in society to obtain the benefits of the good life for all. The absence of this and its replacement by self-benefits allows for a brand that is represented by politics of bitterness, conflict and war which is antithetical to social development. Hence this study emerged to critic a pathway forward, it does this via a review of raison d’état, politics of bitterness, conflict and war which is shown to curate politics as an access way for ill-gotten enrichment of the political class whose quest to maintain their uncertain position leads to the adoption of tactics that allow the manifestation of fierce competition that does not accommodate others views and ambitions. The modus operandi results to include political violence to perpetuate the self-benefitting politician within the political scene, this has been in practice in the political history of Nigerian from independence till date. A theoretical study presents the theory of democracy, role morality theory and conflict theory as a guide that best explains the framework for this paper. Also from an examination of the crux of the topic a route to ensure politics without bitterness, conflict and war the paper provides five models that proffer for societies: not only in Nigeria but in Africa and other political entities.
Keywords: Politics, Politics of bitterness, conflict and war, politics without bitterness, conflict and war, African/Nigerian democracy

I. INTRODUCTION

In his examination of the way and manner politics is conducted in Africa, Karl Maier (2002) opined that Politics is too serious a business to be left for the Politicians alone. Granted that, a negative factor that has prevented development and stability in the political dispensation in Africa is Politics of Bitterness, Conflict and War: to them (i.e politician) it’s about politicians killing each other, betraying each other because of political positions or appointments, (Ayemere, 2015). Hence, leading to questions of, do politics teaches us to destroy one another or is it meant for the destruction of each other? is it meant to eradicate integrity and love from one another?.

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