PARTISAN POLITICS, MORALITY AND THE SEARCH FOR SOCIO-POLITICAL STABILITY IN NIGERIA

Résumé

Etymologically, partisan politics is not a misnomer on its own. To be a politician or to belong to a political party involves having a passion and sharing sentiments about an idea(s) or goal(s) which is pursued with vigour and infinite interest. Humans are naturally subjective beings who put themselves into and behind whatever they do to achieve best results. Politicians seem to have come full circle when their individual ideology agree with political party ideology. Politicians and political parties engage in partisan politics with the view of helping the state achieve socio-economic and political advancement. Partisan politics becomes problematic when the rudiments of political practice are sullied. If these political principles are violated the aftermaths are far reaching for the state and its people. The consequences of faulty partisan politics in Nigeria can be noticed in the socioeconomic, religious and political crisis currently rocking and threatening to destroy the nation. It is against this premise that this study undertakes, inter alia, to examine the excesses of partisan politics in Nigeria and the dangers for political stability-development. A demographic and philosophical interrogation has been used in stating and discussing the facts of this issue. It is also expected that policy makers in Nigeria would find the summations and recommendations hereunder useful as the nation aspire to advance socially, religiously, economically, politically and otherwise, especially in terms of national integration and development. This work has been able to discuss the factors responsible for faulty partisan politics in Nigeria. Tangible recommendations on how to get around these problems and improve partisan politics in Nigeria has been made.