FRIENDSHIP OF UNEQUALS IN ARISTOTLE’S NICHOMACHEAN ETHICS VIS-A-VIS GODFATHERISM IN NIGERIAN POLITICS

FRIENDSHIP OF UNEQUALS IN ARISTOTLE’S NICHOMACHEAN ETHICS VIS-A-VIS GODFATHERISM IN NIGERIAN POLITICS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. TITLE——————————————————————————-I
2. CERTIFICATION—————————————————————–II

III.     DEDICATION——————————————————————–III

1. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS—————————————————-IV
2. TABLE OF CONTENTS——————————————————–VI
3. GENERAL INTRODUCTION ————————————————IX

CHAPTER ONE

1. Concept of Friendship in Aristotle ——————————————1

1.1      Friendship towards a definition ————————————————2

1.2      Objective of Friendship ———————————————————-3

1.3      Types of Friendship ————————————————————–5

1.3.1   Utility ——————————————————————————5

1.3.2   Pleasure —————————————————————————-6

1.3.3   Perfect ——————————————————————————6

1.4      Friendship of Unequals ———————————————————-7

CHAPTER TWO

2. Concept of Godfatherism —————————————————-11

2.1      Origin of Godfatherism ——————————————————–13

2.2      What is Godfatherism? ——————————————————–16

2.3      Causes of Godfatherism in Nigerian politics ——————————-21

2.3.1   Poverty —————————————————————————22

2.3.2   Systemic Disorder ————————————————————–23

2.3.3   Ignorance ————————————————————————24

2.3.4   Corruption ———————————————————————–25

2.4      Activities of the Godfathers —————————————————26

2.5      Reaction of the Godsons ——————————————————-30

2.5.1   Counter Offensive ————————————————————–30

2.5.2   Withdrawal ———————————————————————-31

CHAPTER THREE

3. Unequal Friendship in Aristotle and Political Godfatherism: A Relation -33

3.1      Love of benefactor over the beneficiary ————————————35

3.2      Contract Agreement between the godfather and the godson ————-39

3.3      Breaking of promise ————————————————————43

3.4      The Return of Gift ————————————————————–45

CHAPTER FOUR

4. Evaluation and Conclusion —————————————————50

4.1      Moral Implications of Godfatherism —————————————–50

4.2      Guides Against Godfatherism ————————————————-54

4.3      Evaluation ————————————————————————57

4.4      Conclusion ———————————————————————–59    

BIBLIOGRAPHY ———————————————————————60

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

Since inception of the current administration in Nigeria in 1999, a major political problem that has plagued the country and has become a socio-political problem is “Godfatherism.” Politics in Nigeria has become a business venture where everyone struggles to participate. To this, S. U. Togbolo opines,

Politics in Nigeria has become an investment where the investors are set to make profit at all cost, as a result, political brutality is pervading the society.[1]

This is so strong in Nigerian politics to the extent that the godfather is so strong to the extent of having a larger-than-life image in his area of influence. He determines appointments into state executive councils and where necessary, local councils. So this particular posture of the godfather is a new form of business which must attract huge financial returns at the expense of the democratic citizens. This is because the godfathers must be settled from the general coffer.

The relationship that exists between the godfather and godson points to what Aristotle in his Nichomachean ethics on ‘Friendship’ regarded as “unequal friendship.” This type of friendship involves the superiority of one of the parties where each should not expect to receive the same affection as he gives from the other.[2]

So, this particular relationship of the godfather and the godson requires that whenever the godfather sneezes, the godson catches cold and fever. In fact, the presence of the godfather literally dwarfs the godson. Moreover, to fear him is the beginning of wisdom for the godson.

FRIENDSHIP OF UNEQUALS IN ARISTOTLE’S NICHOMACHEAN ETHICS VIS-A-VIS GODFATHERISM IN NIGERIAN POLITICS