Browsing by Author "Goji, Deborah"

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    Evaluating the Phenomenon of Party Defection in Nigeria
    (Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies Nasarawa State University, Keffi., 2018-11-23) Goji, Deborah; Mbachirin, Abraham T.
    Nigerian politics is characterized by switching political parties or what the politicians themselves call defection. This usually happens close to primaries and after elections. On the surface, politicians defect to find political space in other parties or just to air their grievances. It is practiced by politicians who feel that their right to rule has been denied them by a particular party but they can secure that right in another party Those who defect after election do so to identify with the ruling party and enjoy the benefits attached to the government in power. Though different reasons have been advanced for defection such as selfishness, meed ingratitude, and lust for power, this paper advances that the fundamental ideological reason is lack of a personal and party political philosophy to guide their political life and activities. It is assumed that each party is to have a philosophy or party manifesto and must force members to adhere to it. This is lacking in the Nigerian politics and members are left to their discretion in the political game. Political parties are the central political machinery and control mechanism of the nation's politics. When this is lacking, there is likely hood for bad governance. What forms the foundation of the examination of this paper is the concern for Nigerian political machinery which is the foundation of Nigerian government. When the center is weak, the whole system is bound to fall. Having weak and unstable political parties and politicians is the fundamental problem of governance in Nigeria.
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    Liberation Theology and the Nigerian Socio-Economic and Political Situation
    (Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies Nasarawa State University, Keffi., 2019-10-29) Goji, Deborah; Mbachirin, Abraham T.
    Liberation theology is a contextual theology. It is the deplorable, unfriendly, deteriorating, exploiting and oppressive environment that gives birth to it. Unfortunately, the government or a certain group of people with strong affiliation with the government is usually responsible and controls the oppressive machinery. The concern of liberation theology is the plight of the poor, the downtrodden, and the marginalized. This paper proposes that the Nigeria socioeconomic and political environment in Nigeria is similar to places where liberation theology is operational. The socio-economic and political situation of the past twenty years or so, is that of increased poverty, unemployment, the oppression of less powerful groups by a more powerful group, political and ethnic marginalization, lawlessness of various kinds, the rise of uncontrolled terrorists groups, kidnapping and arm robbery, communal and ethnic clashes, and the continued displacement of people from their original homeland. The Nigerian Church is usually accused of not playing its prophetic role and addressing these issues but has become a praise singer to the government and is compromising its message. This paper asserts that there are some Nigerian Church leaders who are different and are using the language of liberation theology to address these issues. Consequently, the effort of this paper is identify the language of liberation theology among Nigerian Christians. A historical and an analytical approach will be adopted to articulate the assertion of this paper exploiting and oppressive environment that gives birth to it. Unfortunately, the government or a certain group of people with strong affiliation with the government is usually responsible and controls the oppressive machinery. The concern of liberation theology is the plight of the poor, the downtrodden, and the marginalized. This paper proposes that the Nigeria socioeconomic and political environment in Nigeria is similar to places where liberation theology is operational. The socio-economic and political situation of the past twenty years or so, is that of increased poverty, unemployment, the oppression of less powerful groups by a more powerful group, political and ethnic marginalization, lawlessness of various kinds, the rise of uncontrolled terrorists groups, kidnapping and arm robbery, communal and ethnic clashes, and the continued displacement of people from their original homeland. The Nigerian Church is usually accused of not playing its prophetic role and addressing these issues but has become a praise singer to the government and is compromising its message. This paper asserts that there are some Nigerian Church leaders who are different and are using the language of liberation theology to address these issues. Consequently, the effort of this paper is identify the language of liberation theology among Nigerian Christians. A historical and an analytical approach will be adopted to articulate the assertion of this paper.