INTEGRATING MORALITY INTO NIGERIAN POLITICS: A PERSPECTIVE FROM JAMES-MICHAEL OKPALAONWUKA

Abstract

This work search for a means of integrating morality into Nigerian politics through the lenses of Dr. James-Michael Okpalaonwuka (JMO) who attributes Nigeria's political turmoil to the alienation of morality from Nigerian politics. The absolute divorce of morality from Nigerian party politics has resulted in Nigeria's human and infrastructural underdevelopment, further leading to the dehumanization of Nigerian citizens, widespread hunger, poverty, disease, political apathy etc., which have become the order of the day. This existential challenge pricks the following questions in the mind of the researcher: What factors contribute to the erosion of morality in Nigerian politics? How can ethical frameworks be integrated into Nigerian political institutions and practices? What role can religious values play in promoting morality in Nigerian politics? What are the challenges of integrating morality into Nigerian politics? How can these be resolved in the light of JMO’s moral theology? In an attempt to proffer solutions to these problems, the researcher employs the method of analysis. This work reveals that while the political problems of Nigeria have an age-long history and the political elites’ zeal to fight any institutional change that would affect the status quo, conscientious enlightenment and active political participation of all Nigerians is needed to integrate morality into Nigerian politics.