A DISCOURSE ON THE POLITICS OF CONSCIENCELESSNESS IN NIGERIAN: AN ENQUIRY INTO THE CONCEPT OF GOOD GOVERNANCE

Abstract

This paper sets out to interrogate the problem of the politics of consciencelessness and unconsciousness of morality that have prevailed in the lives of Nigerian political class. The level of negligence over the moral-burden-nature of politics witnessed in the attitudinal disposition of the Nigerian political elites has become alarming. The consequences of this negligence are fundamental to the social challenges facing Nigeria which unfortunately have, by this perspective, taken an ontological dimension. Standing on this socio-ontological perspective of this discourse, certain questions come to mind: what is the motive that occupies the consciousness of Nigerians when vying for public office managements? Why have the affairs of public managements become more of personal, instead of public interest? One wonders if ignorance or negligence is the major cause of this! Drawing from this, the paper argues that a major cause of political instability in Nigeria is the death of conscience in the Nigerian political class which has prompted the disposition of ‘unkindness’ towards the people they represent. The paper shall take an empirical, expository and evaluative approach to the discourse; and equally proffer solutions to the political challenges associated to the Nigerian society. Finally, the paper shall theoretically and practically stipulate strategies with which the moral consciousness and conscience of Nigerian political elites would be reawakened so as to sit up to the moral implications of occupying public offices for humanitarian services.