TOWARDS REMEDY OF NIGERIA POLITICAL CULTURE OF AMBIVALENCE

Abstract

This study investigates the phenomenon of political ambivalence in Nigeria through the philosophical method of hermeneutics, aiming to uncover its underlying causes, manifestations, and implications for democratic participation and national cohesion. Drawing on key philosophical insights—particularly those of Asouzu (2007), Ricoeur (1992), West (1993), Gyekye (1997), and Taylor (1994), —the research interprets Nigeria's political culture as a dynamic interplay of parochial, subject, and participatory orientations. The analysis reveals a deep-seated civic disconnection shaped by historical legacies, structural deficiencies, and socio-cultural fragmentation. Political ambivalence, in this context, reflects a broader existential crisis in which trust in institutions is eroded and citizen engagement fluctuates between apathy and resistance. However, this condition also offers fertile ground for transformation. The study proposes a reawakening of civic consciousness through philosophical reflection, inclusive governance, and institutional reform. It concludes that political culture is not static but can be reinterpreted and reshaped to foster a more participatory and united democratic society