The unparalleled politics in Nigeria
Some years ago I appealed to political scientists and students of that king of academic disciplines to provide leadership in Nigerian political discourse and analysis.
The 2023 elections show clearly that my appeal has not been heeded. Extreme subjectivity and partisanship overwhelmed and overshadowed political science objectivity and dedication to scientific truth. The intellectual space was occupied not by the usual attempt to clarify, shape and amend policies but to freeze them at the point of announcement by the preferred candidate who is deemed to be omniscient. A Messiah of sorts!The discursive environment was filled with hot air of insults, caricatures, vitriolic vituperations, intimidation, blackmail and, for the first time in Nigerian history, death threats.
The same people who in the past had prided themselves on speaking truth to power were threatening fire and brimstone against those speaking truth to a candidate for power.The arrogance was palpable and reminiscent of the storm troopers of fascism. It was a case of “my way or the highway “. Even the long-cherished respect for elders was desecrated to no end with reckless abandon. Somehow it was felt that publicly abusing other people’s parents would not result in the physical violence we have all witnessed during our childhood and adolescence. Caution had gone with the wind.Instead of debating and influencing policies, discourse veered toward the personal looks, and other considerations of persons in opposition.
This was unparalleled in Nigerian history, the weaponization of words and rhetoric, the destruction rather than persuasion of the unbelievers.What’s heart-rending is the participation in this farce by trained political scientists, indeed, social scientists. You couldn’t differentiate their views from those of lawyers, journalists, engineers, doctors, novelists and other “laymen and laywomen “. It was as if their training had been in vain. Giving the impression that politics can be equally understood by all and sundry.Thus all the knowledge provided during the first year of social science studies and amplified throughout the rest of the years of study are nowhere to be found in these discourses :1. Avoidance of generalizations without concrete evidence to back them up.2. Such evidence must be from primary sources.3.
The most important evidence is one’s own personal observations, barring this, only primary sources are acceptable.4. Most important of these other sources of primary evidence are official documents of government including the Executive, Legislative and the Judiciary.5. Avoid secondary and tertiary sources, especially rumors.6. Avoid subjectivism in the selection of facts. Don’t cherry pick them.7. Information is good but it’s not knowledge. It’s fact.8. Knowledge is the insight from the pattern of interrelationship of facts. It’s theory.9. Knowledge or theory is wisdom.10. History is critical for acquiring social knowledge, wisdom or social theory.11. Don’t be wowed by the events of the present.
Always situate them within the history of such events for proper understanding.12. Don’t attempt to be a judge and jury In matters of the integrity of facts or the validity of theory. Always subject these to peer review.13. Always focus on the task at hand and avoid distractions.14. Intellectual discourse is a civil activity meant to advance knowledge.
-Okwudiba Nnoli, Professor Emeritus of Political Science.
