Hegemonic Rivalry in a Peripheral Region: An Assessment of Nigeria–South Africa’s Role in African Politics

Nigeria’s claim as the giant of Africa is evident in her foreign policy articulation of African Centre Piece. From 1960, Nigeria has championed the project of Africa through different diplomatic engagements across the continent of Africa most especially under President Olusegun Obasanjo’s civilian administration. Nigeria’s unwavering support against the apartheid regime in South Africa led to the termination of apartheid government in 1994. However, the post- apartheid politics in Africa as well as the post-Cold War politics changed the dynamics of African politics. Nigeria’s claim as the giant of Africa became more contested and hypothetical with the emergence of notable countries such as Ethiopia and South Africa posing serious challenges to Nigeria’s hegemony in the continent. The most viable and notable threats came from South Africa following the end of apartheid regime in South Africa and coupled with its good governance rating, which had heightened the status of the country as a notable continental leader. This article attempts to explain the leadership roles of Nigeria and South Africa in a peripheral region of Africa with the view of analysing who has the sway to lead the affairs of Africa to the path of prosperity. Through the secondary method of data collection and qualitative method of data analysis (discourse analysis), the study concludes that Nigeria and South Africa roles in Africa were motivated by realist considerations. The study, however, recommends concerted efforts between Nigeria and South Africa in addressing socio-economic challenges in the African continent.

ARISTOTLE ON RHETORIC AND POLITICAL PERSUASIVE SKILLS: EXAMPLES FROM POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS IN AFRICAN POLITICS

Aristotle’s theory and principles of Rhetoric have an application to political communication. In this paper, we make a descriptive, critical and analytical exposition of the features of Rhetoric according to Aristotle with a focus on their application to political campaigns in Africa and elsewhere. While exposing the persuasive skills of Rhetoric we associate them with some logical fallacies which political speakers commit in their maneuvers to win credibility before the electorates. As Rhetoric is essentially an art of persuasion it is prone to some immoral stances. These may include deceiving and objectifying the audience for the political interests of the speakers, reciprocation of defamatory and hate speeches among political speakers, inciting of hatred and violence, etc. all aiming at persuading the electorate at all cost and by all means.