Zik’s Neo-welfarism: A Viable Option For The Nigerian State
Chapter One
Preface
Background To The Study
This thesis springs from a genuine sense of nationalism to fashion a way forward for my cherished country. It’s rather remarkable at this time there feel to be little incitement for nationalistic enterprises since the state had neglected to play its part on the verbal social contract with its citizens. Achebe captures the scene veritably aptly, “ when two Nigerians meet, their discussion will sooner or latterly slide into a litany of our public scarcities. ”( 1)
These public straits range from the intimidating state of governmental maladministration to the superintendent mismanagement of the supreme powers of the state. Its goods include ceaseless nation-wide confusion, political insecurity, and social restlessness seriously venturing life and property. The irony still is that these social immoralities that are man- made are perceived by some people to be Divine bills or as an aspect of man’s substance which can not be perfected.
The root cause of this general prevailing degeneration in our society is the poverty of testament. The current testament is reflected in the untoward practices of the leadership, which has filtered into the entire sphere of society’s life. therefore, our moral sensibilities have been reversed.
The altitudinous order facing us if we mean to regenerate our motherland is “ to evolve a new political culture, ”( 2) throughre-examining the alien testament “ assessed on us as a super structure by the social whites ”( 3) with our indigenous testament to form a social matrix, what Zik callsNeo-welfarism. I see this event as a literal necessity. So that we recover from our state of complete indolence, when brazened with issues hanging our commercial actuality and fortune.
Statement Of The Problem
Nigeria is a country blessed with enough material and mortal wealth to satisfy its populace. still due to shy ideological exposure, she’s nowhere near the stratum of advanced countries. Though independent, she still moans under the burden of under development. Politically, she’s the bedrock of insecurity as leaders want to immortalize themselves in office. Economically, she isn’t better off as occasioned by the low standard of living of its citizens. In the technological circle, she could best be described as rich abroad while poor at home.
These and numerous further tend to undermine the image of the Nigerian personality encyclopedically. As no mortal society can thrive without an testament of its own embedded in its culture and history, Nigeria must look inwards. There’s an critical need for a socio- profitable system embedded in Nigerian culture and manifesting Nigerian rates which are “ popular according to her institutions, welfarist in her provident background, humanitarian in sociological life and religiously animistic. ”( 4) The socio- profitable system that encompasses these rates should be espoused to palliate the introductory problems facing Nigeria. These positive fancies will be considered in the light of Zik’sNeo-welfarism.
Purpose Of The Study
Men in colorful ages have cooked different socio- profitable systems to attain the ideal, and appear the objects of the state, which is the material and social well being of the existent. These systems are espoused depending on their felicity and rigidity to the particular people and terrain.
In this light, we shall turn our searchlight on the system that will be stylish acclimated to the Nigerian situation. This system as it were will proffer results to the imperishable problems of Nigeria that have defied sense with a view to restoring mortal quality. This is consummate for we need further than just the nebulous idea called republic. To get to the El dorado, “ we must go beyond republic and define in ideological terms the new society we fantasize and which our people are diurnal pining for. ”( 5)Neo-welfarism will take us there.
Significance Of The Study
The significance of the exploration is to establish the fact that Zik’sneo-welfarism is an inestimable donation towards the development of an enduring political culture, good governance, and socio- profitable improvement of Nigeria. It’s most material at this period Nigeria is at the crossroads, feeling for political stability, public concinnity, profitable reconstruction for a new social order, to heed the advice of Ibrahim Babangida, Nigeria’s former President to social scientists. He admonished them to devote further time to the study of the input of great Nigerians like Zik, describing him as a scholar, a countries man and a “ lamp to serve as reference point from which we take off in our hunt for a durable political and profitable system. ”( 6)
likewise, the exploration shows that his proposition ofneo-welfarism is the product of a combination of his imagination in harmonizing contraries, with the environmental circumstances and the socio- political climate of his life and time. This is in accord with the views of the notorious British Champion, Bethrand Russell;
Proponents are both goods and causes goods of their social circumstances and of the politics and institutions of their time; causes,( if they’re fortunate) of beliefs which mould the politics and institutions of after age.( 7)
Compass Of The Study
The exploration doesn’t over labour itself with agitating colorful socio- profitable systems accessible in all countries, to detect the stylish option for Nigeria. It’s rather concentrated onNeo-welfarism with little perceptivity into Capitalism, Illiberalism and Welfarism. This sapience will take a form of notice.
The work will critically dissect these above- mentioned socio- profitable systems giving their graces and faults and, stating why each isn’t suitable for Nigeria when taken alone. Neo-welfaism will be inversely anatomized bringing out its introductory features and the reasons why it’s the most feasible option for the Nigerian state.
System Of The Exploration
Due to the nature of the work, which is literal as it’s explorative, it becomes consummate to employ the styles of exposition, analysis and notice. The explanatory system will help us know the nature, origin, and history of the three major socio- profitable systems capitalism, illiberalism and welfarism. That of analysis will tell us the difference among these profitable systems not banning their graces and short appearances, whereas critical appraisal will help usre-assess the colorful political systems to detect the most suitable bone for Nigeria to prop her socio- profitable improvement.
The crucial conception then’sneo-welfarism. This conception isn’t simply abstract, but has a place in the practical mortal society. Neo-welfarism has important applicability in the socio- political and profitable life of man. By this fact, trouble will be made to virtually apply the principles ofneo-welfarism for the growth and development of our Nigerian society.
With the below background thus, the work is divided into five chapters. Chapter one is preface. Chapter two is the literature review where the independent struggles in Africa together with the three major socio- profitable systems of capitalism; illiberalism and welfarism will be bandied, exposing their strong and weak points. This launches us into chapter three which out lines the intellectual and artistic foundations that made Zik conclude forneo-wlfarism, since no bone speaks from nowhere. Chapter four will see us vividly describing the socio- profitable system ofneo-welfarism as a veritable Nigerian testament, giving the reasons for this assumption. While chapter five, is the critical evaluation and conclusion.
1)C. Achebe, The Trouble with Nigeria( Enugu Fourth Dimension PublishingCo.Ltd. 1983),p. 2
2)T.U Nwala, Nigeria Path to Unity and Stability( Nsukka Nigeria Books and PublishingCo. Ltd, 1997),p. 230.
3)G.B. Ezeani, Redeeming Nigeria Through Massists testament( Yola Juddy Best Publishers. 1987),p. 15
4)M.I Nwoko, Basic World Political propositions( Owerri Claretian Institute of Philosophy. 1988),p. 203
5)T.U. Nwala, Op. Cit;p. 231.
6) Mosadomi, Secret behind my success – Zik( The Punch Newspaper, Monday,Nov. 18, 1991)p. 2.
7)B. Russel, History of Western Philosophy( London Unwin Paperbacks. 1979),p. 7
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