THE ROLE OF POLITICAL EDUCATION IN PROMOTING ATTITUDINAL CHANGE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Background: It is widely acknowledged that democracy in Nigeria which should be essentially value-based and value-driven is presently a paradox of what it should be. This is because the structures and processes that underpin an effective democratic system in Nigeria are not driven and powered by a particular mindset or ideology. Objectives: To examine the cause(s) of the attitudinal deficiencies in the current practice of democracy in Nigeria, and to explore the extent to which political education could revitalize the identified attitudinal deficiencies for peaceful democratic system. Methods: To achieve the objectives of this work, direct observation and secondary data were adopted. Results: It was discovered that the present ideological deficiencies in Nigeria‘s democracy can be traced and attributed to the long period of military rule in the country. Besides the long years of military rule, the decline in societal values, poor and dysfunctional educational cum socialization processes, perceived compromise on the part of the different agents of political socialization, are other factors. Consequently, many political leaders in Nigeria are obsessed with power—a seductive drive that breeds political instability, ethnic violence, religious riots, moral corruption, economic distortions, megalomania, perversion and desecration of all that is good in the country. Conclusion: If Nigeria is to maintain a strong and responsible democracy and a prosperous and sustainable economic growth into the next century, it must be prepared to address and respond to political attitudinal deficiencies especially among young Nigerians at home and in the diaspora