Dialectics of Freedom in Franz Fanon: A Potent Tool towards Achieving Political Stability in Nigeria

Abstract

The history of political development in Nigeria from independence in 1960 till date is characterised by mutual suspicion and fight for supremacy amongst the various ethnic groups in Nigeria. Militarized political structure, violent agitations of youths from different ethnic groups with clear or unclear demands like Niger Delta Avengers, IPOB, OPC, Boko Haram Insurgency, corruption, poor leadership and passive followership characterize every paragraph of Nigerian political history.  Thus, there is tension and violence in Nigeria which has resulted in political instability in the polity. This paper investigates the root cause of political instability in Nigeria and how an understanding of Frantz Fanon's dialectics of freedom can offer the basis for stability. The dialectical and hermeneutical methods are used in this research.  The dialectical method is used because in dialectics of freedom, freedom is realised through the contradictions arising from the colonial and anti-colonial tendencies in the colonial situation. And hermeneutical method is used because the researcher tries to interpret and apply dialectics of freedom within the context of Nigeria's quest for freedom and stability. The paper traces the root cause of political instability in Nigeria to the inherited colonial pattern of authority in the political structure. After independence, the political structure was preserved, was not restructured and thus became antithetical to democratic values which would have brought about political stability in Nigeria.  The researcher concludes that the application of some principles of Fanon's dialectics of freedom, especially the active participation of the masses in politics, will lead to the restructuring of the inherited colonial structure in Nigeria's political system and thus bring about political stability in Nigeria.