REFERENCE TO THE ADAGE "WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE GOOSE IS ALSO GOOD FOR THE GANDER” IN RELATION TO THE GOLDEN RULE AS BASIS FOR THE UNITY OF NIGERIA
Abstract
This study addresses the unhealthy unity in Nigeria, which, since its inception, has been fraught with gross unrest, chasm, and rancour amid the ethnic groups within the system. This anomaly occasioned the regrettable ‘Wild Wide West’ that incidentally ushered in the upheaval that indeed caused the ethnic cleansing and civil war of the 1960s. Kids who were taught of national unity in colleges or read of it in their textbooks while in school tend to get extremely exasperated as they see and experience outright different thing amid the society in their career endeavors within the country. This unprecedented departure from true unity has caused untold insidious fracas in the country recently, and addressing it in the academia is just an urgent necessity. In carrying out this study from a cultural perspective, the Igbo adage analytically explained in the article is used vis-à-vis the popular maxim by Jesus in the Gospels, especially from the Matthean account otherwise christened the “Golden Rule.” The approaches considered effective for elucidation of facts therewith are an exegesis of the selected passage and contextual analysis of the theme. Liberation theology was used to address this issue in the context of the present study. The study concluded that restructuring is non-negotiable if Nigeria must remain a nation, and the same is one of the recommendations of the work.
Keywords:
An Igbo Adage, Golden Rule, Egalitarianism, Nigerian Society, Resource Control, Restructuring NigeriaDownloads
Published
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15657241Issue
Section
How to Cite
References
Abdulsalam, A."The Path to Unity in Nigeria", Punch, May 11, 2023. Accessed January 2, 2025, http://punching.com/the-path-to-unity-in-Nigeria/
Adiele, P. (2024). A telephone discussion on the Adage “EmenyereNwogwugwu, emenyekwaraNwanosikena da-Nnediyen’nulo” on Sunday 5th of January with Dr Promise Adiele on the Subject Matter.
Achebe, C., (1958), Things Fall Apart, London: Heinemann Educational Books.
Agu, O., (2024) “A telephone discussion on the Adage “EmenyereNwogwugwu, emenyekwaraNwanosikena da-Nnediyen’nulo” Chief ObikaraAgu on Thursday, 14th of November, 2024, on on the Subject Matter
Ako, R., (2012), “Resource Control in the Niger Delta: Conceptual Issues and Legal Realities” Accessed 4th of September, 2019, https://www.e-ir.info/2012/05/25/resource-control-in-the-niger-delta-conceptual-issues-and-legal-realities/
Amaku, K., (2019), Senior Special Assistant to the President of 8thSenateon Legislative Matters and Strategy and Strategy, “Say no to Quota System,” A WhatsApp Post on 17th September.
Beale, G. K. and D. A. Carson (Eds.), (2007), Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament, Grand Rapids: Baker Academy.
Carson, D. A., (2010), “Matthew” In Tremper Longman III & David E. Garland (eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
Clarke, A., Commentary, (Copyright © 2006 Electronic Database), by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.
Earle, R., (ND), The Gospel according Matthew, (Sp. Ed), Kansas City: Beacon Commentary Press, Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, “Golden Rule,” Accessed 4th September, 2019. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Golden-Rule
Erhire, O. M. (2024), Reflections on Nigeria: Unity amidst Diversity. Accessed January 2, 2025, https://medium.com/@erhiregweke/reflections -on-Nigeria-unity-amidst-diversity-3f8e25a747e5
Gwazo, Aliyu., (2019), “The Problem with You Southerners,” A WhatsApp Message Sent to my Contact on September, 21, 2019.
Igboin, Benson. O., (2013), “The Golden Rule and the Quest for Peace in Africa,” in A. O. Dada, G. N. Toryough, and H. E. Amolo, Biblical Studies Justice & Peace in Africa, (Lagos: NABIS
James Woodburn, (1982), “Egalitarian Society” JSTOR: Men New Series, Vol. 17, No 3, Accessed 17/08/2019, http://www.jstor.org/stable/2801707
Maduka, P., (2024), “A telephone discussion on the Adage “EmenyereNwogwugwu, emenyekwaraNwanosikena da-Nnediyen’nulo” with Rev Peter Maduka on 2nd of August, 2024 on the Subject Matter
Manus, Chris U. and Nwanguma, Chibuzo I., (2021), “Onesimus, Philemon’s runaway slave boy: A brief liberation theological exegesis of Philemon vv. 8-18 in the Nigerian context” HTS Theologiese Studies, 77(1), a6016. https://doi. org/10.4102/hts.v77i1.6016
Nwanguma, Chibuzo I., (2015), “Paul’s Teaching on Love in 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 as an Ethical Basis for a Prosperous, United, and Developed Africa – Nigeria in Perspective,” ORITA: Ibadan Journal of Religions Studies, Vol. XLVII No 1&2.
Nwanguma, Chibuzo I., (2015), “Church and Society: Examining the Interception in Politics, Economics, Socio-Justice and Social Welfare” {quoting I. O. Okafor’s the Role of the Judiciary in Sustenance of Democracy, 31}, in A. J. Ayantayo and S. A. Fatokun (eds.), Religion and Security Issues, Vol. 5, Ibadan: The Archers Press.
Nwanguma, Chibuzo I. (2020), “Building an Egalitarian Society through hints from the Gospels: a Study of the Golden Rule (Matt. 7:12)” International Journal of HumanittatisTheoreticus. Vol. 3 (Issue 1)
Nwanguma, Chibuzo I., andAttah A., (2019), “Peter’s Theology of Good Citizenship as A Motivation for Christians’ Participation in Political Issues in Nigeria” an edited paper yet in press for publication, ACU Journal of Religious Studies, ACUJOH.
Nwobasi, H. N., and Ituma, A., (2018), “Nigerian State, National Governance and Resource Control Controversy: Interrogating the Implications of Mono-Economy,” Journal of Economics and Finance (IOSR-JEF), Vol. 9 Issue 4 Ver.
Oates, W., (2006), ‘An Essay on Fiscal Federalism’, (1999) 37 Journal of Economic Literature 3, 1120–1149. Also, ‘K. McKenzie, ‘Fiscal Federalism and Taxation’, in Perspectives on Fiscal Federalism R. Bird and F. Vaillancourt, (eds.) (Washington, DC: World Bank.
Tullberg, J., (2012), “The Golden Rule of Benevolence versus the Silver Rule of Reciprocity” Journal of Religion and Business Ethnics, Vol. 3 No 1.
Ukaegbu, S. C., (2019) “A telephone discussion on the Adage “EmenyereNwogwugwu, emenyekwaraNwanosikena da-Nnediyen’nulo” on 24th of September, 2019 with Dr Simeon C. Ukaegbu
Webster, Merriam, (2002), Webster’s New Encyclopedic DictionaryMassachusetts: Merriam Webster Incor.
Zodhiates, Spios et al (Eds.), (1991), Hebrew-GreekKey Word Study Bible, (Chattanooga: AMG Publishing, Inc.
