Repositioning Democratic Governance in Africa for Better Dividends Delivery: A Case for Performance

Given the fact that democracy as a system and form of governance which allows for even participation, freedom of expression, rule of law and other indices attached thereto, had awaken the consciousness of humanity from all over the world to key into this form of leadership due to its uncommon benefits. Africa her ‘third world cousins’ seemed to have remained in a slumbering position and have refused to wake up and wear the toga of democratic principles as acts displayed by leaders lacked democratic character. This paper argues that democratic dividends and flavour can be felt and directly impacted on the citizens of Africa especially Nigeria, if adequate political socialization, culturalization and consciousness are fused as part of her cultural education. This new consciousness and democratic mindset will arguably make leaders and the led see each other as an inclusive indispensable part of the whole. It will also eliminate unwantom suspicion, rancour, ethnic bigotry, exclusion and hegemonic display of power and more so, leadership may not be tenured but anchored on performance and service delivery. The paper believes that with a political consciousness, socialization and high sense of political culture, leadership becomes service to the humanity and not business enterprise. Hence leaders that performed optimally may continue to serve the people if they so desire. This paper adopts critical, analytical and expository methods.

Kantian Ethics And The Hesc Research: A Philosophical Exploration

The scientific reports on the successful use of Human Embryonic Stem cells to cure many sicknesses as provoked a long-standing controversy about the ethics of research involving human embryos. This controversy arises from sharply differing moral views regarding the use of embryos for research purposes. Indeed, an earnest international scholarly debate continues till today over the ethical, legal, and medical issues that arise in this arena. Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) had given a moral guideline that ethical decisions should be made by considering the nature of the act itself, not its consequences. Furthermore, Kant has warned that persons (autonomous agents) have a special moral worth or dignity, which is the basis for the respect that is owed to them. Thus, respect for persons, means never using persons merely as means to our ends, but always treating them also as ends in themselves. Some philosophers like Richard Doerflinger, Michael Novak, Gilbert Meilaender, and Robert P. George have used the Kantian formula of humanity to criticize the argument that spare IVF embryos can be used for stem cell research given their inevitable death and thus lack of properties for future life. However, the purpose of this paper is to take a critical look at the Human Embryonic Stem cells subject matter to investigate the concept of “personhood’, with the maxim of ‘never treating a person as a means’. This paper argues that if we accepts the definition of a person to possess capacities such as ‘rational’ ‘will’ and ‘self-determination’, then IVF embryos is not a person and can therefore be researched upon, used to derive human embryonic stem cells. Hence, Human Embryonic Stem cells research can be carried out within the ambiance of Kant Categorical Imperative without moral conflict.

Strategic Interest and Media: A Global Perspective

Media has also been used as psychological warfare and a propaganda tool, particularly during times of wars and acts of insurgency. It has been used as a tool while fighting the wars and boosting the morale of the security forces across the nations. Propaganda, although it has existed almost indefinitely, has grown immensely during the past few centuries as a most strategic tool to guard the strategic interests of the nations. The propaganda was bolstered by the invention of the radio. The ability to communicate orally with a large number of people in a very small amount of time also helped the development of propaganda. This form of mass media has been used as the most effective tool with the government agencies to put forth their news and views. Radio has strategically suited governments across the globe to fight psychological wars by airing propaganda into the territories of the neighbouring countries. Since Radio is affordable and speaks in a local language and customs to a very common man, it has definitely an edge over other formats of communication when it comes to the question of guarding the strategic interests of a nation. This research discusses and deals with the strategic interests and the media and how radio has especially been used worldwide as a tool by a number of countries to safeguard their national interests. This chapter touches upon some theories and elements of propaganda, the use of radio during world wars and how countries guarded their strategic interests in the Cold War and Post-Cold War era.

Religious Manipulation: A Threat to Societal Development in Nigeria

This paper sought to posit that religious manipulation is a threat to societal development in Nigeria. The researcher adopts descriptive method. Nigeria today has been known with a lot of diversity of belief which in one way or the other has a negative impact to the societal development. It is noticed that the diversity of religious practices in Nigeria is the outcome of manipulation. For a society to develop, tolerance is at times its fulcrum. The author concludes that intolerance and insurgency is as a result of religious manipulation. Which was as a result of poor checkmating of religious belief in Nigeria and to curtail it before it reaches to the worst stage. However, this paper recommends that in order to control this perilous act, there is a need for Nigeria to emulate on how to treat people irrespective of religion. And enhance peace education in Africa.

Covid 19 Natural Evil / Human Evil: A Philosophical Investigation

This paper sought to find out whether COVID 19 is as a result of natural evil, human evil or both. The researchers adopt an expository method in carrying out this work. Viruses have been around in the world long as life itself. We can confidently say that life as we know it would not exist without viruses. Viruses do leave “fossils” in the Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)-the hereditary material in humans and of other organisms, from which their history can be reconstructed. It is as a result of this that the researchers posit that COVID 19 is neither natural evil nor human evil. The researchers conclude that the issue of COVID 19 outbreak ravaging the earth has a sufficient reason. But sometimes our emotions blind us from seeing the reason but solely the event.

Dialogue Concerning Life: Abiogenesis, Biogenesis Or Creationism: Religious Response

Life itself is a mystery, the how and when of life’s origin constitute a serious challenge to both religion and science. To the reasoning mind, the origination of life is an intellectual problem that needs intellectual resolution especially in the domains of science and religion. To this extent, some scientific assumptions and postulations concerning the origin of life and the universe are found in a number of theories such as evolution, biogenesis, and abiogenesis among others. Obviously, all these theories pose serious challenges to most religious beliefs including the notion of creationism. In this paper, the historical and critical analytic methods were used to document and evaluate the various religious responses on the subject. The paper posits that religious adherents should acquit themselves with authentic religious beliefs and integrate them with authentic scientific knowledge.

Ibuanyidanda and the Principle of Non-Contradiction: A Logico-Metaphysica Discourse of Asouzu’s Complementary

Ibuanyidanda and The Principle of Non-Contradiction aims at instantiating the claims of Asouzu’s Complementary Reflection that whatever exists serves as a missing link of reality. Reality has been construed within a bifurcating frame of mind, a project that was characterized by the elitist mindset of Plato and was further espoused in Aristotle’s philosophy of essence. For Aristotle, the wise is destined to rule the unwise. This divisive mentality permeates the entire Western culture. Unfortunately, Placid Tempels made some African scholars to erroneously believe and argue that the Western understanding of being is static, while that of Africa is dynamic. This anomaly, among other things, is what Ibuanyidanda as a philosophy and a method of doing philosophy sets out to address. Ibuanyidanda ontology contends that reality can be better understood from the complementary point of view. The principle of non-contradiction championed by Aristotle and the Western scholars sees the opposite of being as non-being, but Asouzu’s complementary reflection sees the opposite of being as to be alone (ka so mu di). This work holds that ibuanyidanda complementary reflection is capable of handling the problems of contradiction that are apparent in the Western mode of philosophising. Opposites do not contradict themselves, they complement each other. Ibuanyidanda philosophy and its position are contrary to the views of Aristotle’s metaphysics and open to sight ontological updating - a good recipe for the advancement of 21st-century philosophizing. Analytic, textual, contextual, and historical methods are employed in this work.

Pentecostalism and Development: The Role and Prospects of Prosperity Gospel in the Socio-Economic Development of Nigeria

The prosperity gospel is a popular doctrine that is taught and practised by many Pentecostal churches in Nigeria. It has enhanced and improved the financial status of many Pentecostal churches thereby enabling them to carry out several projects which have enhanced the socio-economic wellbeing of many people. Such projects include the establishment of schools, universities, printing presses, financial empowerment of members, provision of welfare packages and care for the needy. This paper highlights the meanings of Pentecostalism, prosperity gospel and development. It also attempts to explain how prosperity gospel, in the context of some Pentecostal churches- Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel) and Christian Central Chapel International, among others, have contributed to the socio-economic wellbeing of many. However, this paper acknowledges that there is room for an improvement and expansion of the contributions of prosperity gospel to development in the future. Hence suggestions are given on how to harness, improve and expand the benefits of the prosperity gospel in Nigerian society in the future.

Adaptasi Waria: Studi Kasus Komunitas Waria di Kabupaten Pangkep

This study aims to see (1) Know how to read waria in the community (2) To see how public acceptance of waria is. The type of research used is descriptive qualitative which describes the adaptation of the transgender community by taking the location in Pa'doang-doangan Village, Pangkajene District, Pangkep Regency. Information retrieval was carried out by purposive sampling, and obtained 14 people. The data techniques used were observation, interview and documentation. The results showed that 1) The adaptation process carried out by the transgender community in Pa`doang-doangan Village is by associating and always interacting with the community and how they uphold the values of mutual respect for each individual both in a young or adult environment and the most important thing is to keep them ethical. In addition, they provide the best service to each of their customers and are active in community social activities so as to create a high emotional sense with community members. 2) The existence of transgender women in society at first received social pressures but slowly they were able to accept it well in society. The manifestation of the acceptance of the existence of the waria community in Pa`doang-doangan Village is that they are not only accepted in their social environment, but they get legitimacy from the local government. Now they have the same social role in their social environment.

Perempuan Pengrajin Gerabah di Desa Wanio Kecamatan Pancalautang Kabupaten Sidenreng Rappang

This study aims to describe the condition of women who work as pottery craftsmen. This type of research is descriptive qualitative. Data collection methods in this study are through interviews, observation, and documentation. The target of this research is women craftsmen of pottery in the village of Wanio, kec. Pancalautang Kab. Sidrap then selected 7 people who became research informants through a purposive sampling technique, with the criteria being women pottery craftsmen who are married, as pottery craftsmen and whether or not they have been working as pottery craftsmen for a long time. The results showed the profile of the life of the first pottery craftsman from the education aspect, the second the health aspect and the third the income aspect. The woman who craftsmen divides her time in carrying out the two domains at once, namely directly making pottery and there are also those who finish work at home before making pottery. The positive impact felt by women in making pottery is that it can help the family economy besides that it can increase a sense of self-esteem, life satisfaction and health is maintained. The negative impacts are lack of time with family and workload.