THE ROLE OF POLITICAL EDUCATION IN PROMOTING ATTITUDINAL CHANGE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA
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Date
2016-04-24
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
American Journal of Innovative Research and Applied Sciences.
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
Description
Staff Publication
Keywords
Political Illiteracy,, Attitudinal and Ideological Deficiencies,, Democratic Deficit,, Peaceful Democratic System