A COMPARATIVE OF IDEAL OF PLATO AND ARISTOTLE TO THE 4TH REPUBLIC OF NIGERIAN POLITICS

INTRODUCTION To bring up the ideal of Plato and Aristotle to Nigerian politics is almost an error from the word go but a dot from their ideal can be used as a lens to look at the Nigerian politics, this is because Nigerians are experiencing an unprecedented degree of “ungovernance” or Mis-governance, marked by a high degree of insecurity, hunger, corruption, illiteracy in governance, among others (Amalu, 2015). In the rich tapestry of political thought, the ancient wisdom of philosophers like Plato and Aristotle has woven a timeless narrative of governance and leadership. Yet, in the complex landscape of Nigerian fourth republic, one must wonder if Nigerian politicians of today uphold the ideals set forth by these venerable thinkers or has the vibrant tapestry of Nigerian politics undergone a transformation that challenges the very essences of these classical principles? As we embark on this intellectual journey, we will navigate the current Nigerian politics to discern whether Plato and Aristotle’s ideal still find resonance in the heart of Africa’s largest democracy. However, before we delve into this discuss proper concepts such as politics and ideal of Plato and Aristotle must be looked into. THE CONCEPTS OF POLITICS The word politics have different meaning from Plato to Aristotle and many other scholars but according to Shaw and pierce, politics is the struggle for power to make authoritative decisions for the whole society, for Max weber politics is the struggle for power, Okwudiba Nnoli perceived it as conflict management and conflict resolution. According to Harold laswell politics is who gets what, when and how. Furthermore, Harold laski viewed it as an authoritative allocation of resources (Mahajan, 1988, p.92). IDEAL OF PLATO IN POLITICS Plato's ideal government was a philosopher-king ruling class, where individuals with wisdom and philosophical knowledge governed for the benefit of the entire society. IDEAL OF ARISTOTLE POLITICS Aristotle's ideal government was a mixed government that brings balanced between the elements of monarchy, aristocracy and democracy. Furthermore, due to the conceptual clarification, the study will move to the discussion stage, where the ideal of Plato and Aristotle are looked at to see its conformity with Nigerian fourth republic. DISCUSS ON CONFORMITY OF NIGERIAN FOURTH REPUBLIC TO PLATO AND ARISTOTLE IDEAL ON POLITICS Plato's ideal government was a philosopher-king ruling class, where individuals with wisdom and philosophical knowledge governed for the benefit of the entire society. Nigeria's 4th Republic has not adhered to this ideal, as it operates as a democratic republic with elected representatives rather than philosopher-kings (Sabin and Thorson, 1973, p. 57). That is, those who have knowledge should govern the state. Plato proposed the concept of a philosopher-king, an individual with wisdom and philosophical knowledge who would rule with the sole aim of achieving the greater good for the entire society. In Nigerian politics, the idea of philosopher-kings does not directly apply, as leaders are typically elected through democratic processes rather than being chosen based on their philosophical wisdom. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFRN) 1999 (as amended) prescribes that a person shall be qualified for the office of President of the Federation, Governor of a state, or if he has been educated up to at least the School Certificate level or its equivalent (Koni, 2021). The law is silent on the minimum number of credits that must be earned. Thus, it has come to mean that evidence of having attempted the School Certificate Examination is sufficient (Ismael, 2021). Aristotle's ideal government was a mixed government that brings balanced between elements of monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy. In practice, Nigeria has had a democratic system since the 4th Republic began in 1999, which involves elected leaders and representatives. However, Nigeria has faced challenges related to corruption, power struggles, and governance issues, which may not fully align with Aristotle's vision of a well-functioning mixed government. Democracy differs in their inclusiveness; in Nigeria the democracy is exclusive due to high cost of campaign and party registration (Sabin and Thorson, 1973, p. 113). In the context of Nigeria, which operates as a democratic republic, Aristotle's classifications can be applied as Nigeria's democracy corresponds to Aristotle's notion of a "polity" when it functions well as a government by the many for the common good. 2. REASONS WHY PLATO IDEAL DONOT CONFORM WITH NIGERIA FOURTH REPUBLIC The reasons while Plato ideal do not conform to Nigerian fourth republic are; 1. Plato's ideal government was a philosopher-king ruling class, where individuals with wisdom and philosophical knowledge governed for the benefit of the entire society. However, Nigeria's 4th Republic has not adhered to this ideal, as it operates as a democratic republic with elected representatives rather than philosopher-kings 2. He advocated for an individual with wisdom and philosophical knowledge who would rule with the sole aim of achieving the greater good for the entire society but Nigerian leaders only move for their personal interest with high level of corruption 3. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFRN) 1999 (as amended) prescribes that a person shall be qualified for the office of President of the Federation, Governor of a state, or if he has been educated up to at least the School Certificate level or its equivalent. This is replicated for legislators and chairmen/chairpersons of local governments. The law is silent on the minimum number of credits that must be earned. Thus, it has come to mean that evidence of having attempted the School Certificate Examination is sufficient. REASONS WHY ARISTOTLE IDEAL PARTIALLY CONFORM TO NIGERIAN FOURTH REPUBLIC 1. Aristotle's ideal government was a mixed government that balanced elements of monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy. In practice, Nigeria has had a democratic system since the 4th Republic began in 1999, which involves elected leaders and representatives. 2. In the context of Nigeria, which operates as a democratic republic, Aristotle's classifications can be applied as Nigeria's democracy corresponds to Aristotle's notion of a "polity" when it functions well as a government by the many for the common good. However, the reason why i aid it partially conform are; 3. Nigeria has faced challenges related to corruption, power struggles, and governance issues, which may not fully align with Aristotle's vision of a well-functioning democracy. 4. Democracy differs in their inclusiveness; in Nigeria the democracy is exclusive due to high cost of campaign and party registration. CONCLUSION Nigeria's 4th Republic is founded on democratic principles; it faces various challenges in conforming to the idealized political theories of Plato and Aristotle. The reality of Nigerian politics is complex, with elements of democracy mixed with issues of governance, corruption, and power struggles that don't precisely match these ancient philosophical ideals. However, the application of Plato and Aristotle’s ideas to contemporary Nigerian politics must consider the unique historical, cultural, and social contexts of the nation. Reference list Amalu, N. S. (2015). Impact of Boko Haram insurgency on human security in Nigeria, Global Journal of Social Sciences, 14(1) Koni, I. J. (2021). An appraisal of the powers of the attorney-general of the federation to prosecute violators of the presidential order suspending the operations of twitter in Nigeria, Journal of Commercial and Property Law, 8(4), P.56-68. Ishmael. U. G, and Moses, N. O. (2021). Plato’s Philosopher Rulers: Lessons for Nigeria, Journal Ilmu Sosiologi Dialektika Kontemporer Vol. 8, (1,) Mahajan, V.d. (1988). Political theory, S.Chand and company limited, New Delhi Sabin, G. H and Thorson, T. (1973). A history of political theory, Oxford and IBH publishing CO. PVT. LT, New Delhi. India