Ethics of self-sacrifice as an antidote to political corruption in the contemporary Nigeria

Abstract

Sacrifice as a concept is multifaceted in nature and efforts have been made at different quarters to underscore its importance. Many scholars have examined the concept from different dimensions. However, an area which seems to have been largely ignored over the years is the ethical dimension of self-sacrifice as an antidote to political corruption in Nigeria, given the high level of moral laxity and unbridled corrupt practices that have become the bane of political office holders in Nigeria. In Nigeria, corruption, self-centeredness, nepotism and winner-takes-it-all syndromes have taken the centre-stage of the national life. The effects of these practices have made development in every sector of the nation a mirage as a result of the unpatriotic attitudes of political leaders in the country, which calls for concerted efforts of all and sundry. This paper, therefore, is a Clarion call on political leaders and their followers to make self-sacrifice a top priority in order to save the country from the political comatose and developmental kwashiorkor it has been experiencing over the years.