Democracy and National Development in Nigeria: Vis-À-Vis John Locke’s Social Contract Theory

Ogbuka Ikenna Matthew, Anikwe Johnson Azubike and Udenta Celestina Nkiruka

Department of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, (ESUT) Enugu, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

This study investigated democracy and national development in Nigeria: vis-à-vis John Locke’s social contract theory. Three research questions were posed to guide the study: what is the nature and character of the practice of democracy in Nigeria in the light of the principles of John Locke’s social contract theory? What are the effects of the dichotomy between John Locke’s social contract theory and the practice of democracy in Nigeria? And how can John Locke’s social contract theory serve as a foundational base for the practice of democracy in Nigeria? In line with the research questions, three objectives and three hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. Literatures related to the study were extensively reviewed. The researchers adopted participatory theory as a theoretical framework. Also, the study adopted narrative-qualitative approach and secondary method of data collection. Data collected were analyzed based on the value of information that is content analysis. The findings of the study indicated that the nature and character of the practice of democracy in Nigeria did not adhere to the principles of John Locke’s social contract theory. The study recommends amongst others that the social contract establishing the Nigerian state should be re-negotiated by convocation of national/constitutional conference to or adoption of recommendations of previous national conferences to seek the consent of the people in tandem with the social contract theory. The researchers concluded that the practice of democracy in Nigeria does not support John Locke’s social contract theory. 

Keywords: Democracy, National Development, Nigeria and Social Contract

CITE AS: Ogbuka Ikenna Matthew, Anikwe Johnson Azubike and Udenta Celestina Nkiruka (2024). Democracy and National Development in Nigeria: Vis-À-Vis John Locke’s Social Contract Theory. RESEARCH INVENTION JOURNAL OF CURRENT ISSUES IN ARTS AND MANAGEMENT 3(3):106-124.