Prof Frank- Collins Okafor, ,Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, has called on scholars to pride in laudable research programs to promote nation building.
Okafor made the call during the, first in the series of the faculty of social sciences colloquium in Awka.
” The first of its kind in history of the faculty and first to be hosted in the new faculty building.
” The idea came after series of seminars failed in the faculty due to lack of interest ,glamour pageantry and support, so we decided to be game changer.
” Colloquium is simply a conference at which scholars or other experts present papers on,analyse,and discuss a specific topic with important questions and answers period.,” he said
Okafor said that the Topic: “Democracy of Miscreancy: the developmental somersault” is the presenter’s insight into the shark infested political terrain called Nigeria.
Prof Harry Obi-Nwosu, pionner faculty colloquium paper presenter said democracy originated from Greek words: Demos and Kratos, meaning people and power respectively.
Obi- Nwosu said that the word right Democracy should mean people’s power or power of the people or simply translated as “collective strength” however it is commonly defined as a method of government in which power belongs to the people,where the people determines what obtains.
He said that Democracy implies the principles of government/ administration which satisfices the desires of the people where the will of the people is the ace. democracy is form of government by people through elected representative a county is governed by its people, political, social legal equality.
“ There are four basic principles that underlie the democratic cultures which includes Freedom of assembly, association, and personal property
“freedom of religion, speech, citizenship, voting right, freedom from unwarranted governmental deprivation of the right to life and liberty and exercise of minority tight.
“democracy by the above points is a practical and measurable construct but if fix in like art type questioner paper “ to what extent do people freely practice their religion, compliance with rule of law, express themselves without intimidation , rate of safety amongst others, will a positive results be obtainable in Nigeria.
Obi- Nwosu said that development must be construed on terms of needs of the people, development is milieu relative, it is a step by step positive progression that solves social and environmental problems of the people.
He said such role need includes Administration of justice, protection of civil liberties, foreign diplomacy, military defense, provisions for and conduct of an election, provision of public goods and services, promotion of economic growth and development amongst others.
Obo-Nwosu said that real miscreancy are describes injustice, iniquity, rascality, wickedness, wrongdoings as the constitution meant to guide individual and social behavior within the polity so as to protect the weak and avoid arbitrary behavior at all levels.
He said constitutional in Nigeria miscreants are street boys, girls, cultists, though this indeed fit in to what miscreant means but the are many more acts to be added which includes governors who subjugates citizens, fails to protect the weak, carts away state resources are typical miscreants.
Obi-Nwosu said that students who cheats is a miscreants, lecturers should sell grades ,harass students or fail to deliver responsibly on their academic duties are miscreants.
He said the administrators in public or private enterprises who flouts regulations or fails to on dispassionate attention to duties is a miscreant, a electoral officer who manipulates electoral processes and results is the author of miscreant
