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Friendship Of Unequals In Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics Vis-a-vis Godfatherism In Nigerian Politics
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 5]
Page 2 of 5
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PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The aim of this research work is to unearth the
phenomenon of political godfatherism in Nigeria, its activities, its
moral implication and possible ways of curbing it to have a better
democratic environment.
Godfatherism is becoming both a political and
social problem. Politics of sponsorship is spreading like a wild fire
in Nigeria. We see in the relationship that exists between the godfather
and the godson. This appears like true friendship until power struggle,
which is caused by their selfish interest, comes in. The relationship
between the godfather and the godson is a utility friendship. And as we
know in Aristotle’s teaching on friendship that in utility friendship,
when that which is useful vanishes, the friendship cease to exist. Thus,
he writes,
Those whose friendship is based on the useful or on the
pleasant dissolve it as soon as it ceases to be advantage, since they
were friends not of one another but of what was profitable for them.[8]
At
this, the godfather carries war against the godson. Then, the godson
will be distracted in his work and that leaves the state undeveloped. It
is indeed a big deal that a single individual who claims to be a
godfather should hold the whole state to ransom. The treasury of the
state through the godson becomes a client to the godfather.
In a
political environment where an aspirant for government power or a job
must accept terms from a would-be-godfather in order to receive support
from him for a sure access to power is corruption. Furthermore, we know
that there must be a bargain so that the godfather will be fully out to
support the godson. We now live with the philosophy of “nothing goes for
nothing.†Then, this bargain of the godfather and the godson mortgages
the interest of the governed whose mandate the godfather bought over for
the godson.
In this thesis, we have to show how this utility
friendship or unequal friendship between the godfather and godson has
been a thorn in the flesh of the citizens. It aims at the fact that our
so-called leaders and their godfather know that the citizens are
entitled to their dividends of democracy since they have invested a lot
in it. Our cry is for our leaders to know that the mandate of the
citizens is the most important. The godfathers will come and go but the
citizens will remain. The leaders as such should invest on the citizens
rather than on the godfathers.
METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY
This
phenomenon godfatherism has eaten deep into the Nigerian democracy. Our
polity is now an investment where the investors multiply as days go by.
It is now a matter of necessity that this research work employs the
method of explanatory, expository, evaluation and practical.
On
explanatory aspect, I shall explain lucidly the concepts of friendship
more especially that of unequal and the concept of godfatherism in
Nigerian politics. While on the side of expository, I shall go a long
way to expose the activities of the godfathers, what seem to be the
causes of godfatherism and the love that exist between the godfather and
the godson which also seemed like true friendship.
It will be
evaluative, since I am going to evaluate the moral implications of
godfatherism and its effect on the people. Finally, it will be practical
also since the research work is experiential and deals with observable
facts in Nigeria democracy or politics.
On the other hand, this
thesis comprises of four chapters which for the sake of clarity will be
divided into two parts. The first part will contain the general
introduction featuring the biological sketch of Aristotle, statement of
problem, purpose of study, methodology and literature review.
The
second part will be further divided into two dimensions. Chapters one
and two will deal with friendship and godfatherism respectively. Here, I
will discuss the concept of friendship, its definitions, types, and
unequal friendship. Again, I shall also look at the concept of
godfatherism, its origin, definition, activities of godfathers and the
causes of godfatherism.
The chapter three treats unequal friendship
of Aristotle and godfatherism in Nigerian politics. Here, we shall see
the relationship that exists between the godfather and the godson.
Finally, the fourth chapter evaluates the moral implication of
godfatherism; guides against it and then conclusion.
LITERATURE REVIEW
The
topic of my research is ‘Unequal Friendship in Aristotle’s Nichomachean
ethics Vis-à -vis- Godfatherism in Nigerian Politics’. I have conducted
researches from diverse areas. I first conducted my researches through
the websites like http:www.yahoosearch.com, http:www.googles.com,
http:www.msn.com, and http:www.vanguardngr.com. I also laid my hands on
several articles that deal on the topic of my research. I searched
references cited on them for more studies. Furthermore, through the
computer, I got some relevant books for my research. So let me now
present my literature review. It will feature two ways: the review of
relationship between friendship and godfatherism and the review of
godfatherism: an offshoot of political party in Nigeria.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FRIENDSHIP AND GODFATHERISM
Nigerian
politics in recent times has been experiencing what we call godfather
phenomenon. From the inception of the present administration in 1999,
this phenomenon has been a different ball game. I will begin by trying
to show how friendship of unequal can become a root to godfatherism
because of self-interest relationship existing between the godfather and
the godson. In this, many philosophers and thinkers have shown their
views right from the ancient period to this contemporary age. While some
view friendship from its negative perspective, others upheld the
positive aspect of it.
Moving down the epochs, in the pre-modern era,
we have the work of Homer, the Iliad, where he portrayed the friendship
of Achilles and the Patrochus as being very exclusive. Here, Achilles
did not consider the plight of the people outside his
friendship.[10]This exclusive character of friendship as portrayed by
Achilles makes friendship selfish.
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 5]
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