“In Search of Good Governance": Domesticating Themes in Psalm 72 for Political Leaders in Nigeria.
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Date
2017-05
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Department of Religious Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
Abstract
The level of development in many countries in Africa is not congruent with the stupendous natural and human resources at their beck and call. This situation has generally been connected to poor governance. Therefore, the quest for good governance is one of the major concerns of most countries in Africa and Nigeria in particular. Righteousness and Justice are indicated in Psalm 72 as germane if good governance will be actualized. Leaning on the classification of the Psalter by Hermann Gunkel, the fact that Psalm 72 is one of the Royal Psalms that describes the commitment of an ancient Israelite King to govern his people aright makes it a relevant choice for this study. Therefore, the themes, righteousness and justice as presented in the Psalm were domesticated for Nigeria political leadership. Both historical and exegetical methods with bias for historical-grammatical analysis of the Psalm were used for this paper. The exegetical engagement of the text brings to fore the symbiotic relationship between (personal) righteousness and administration of justice in governance as sine qua non for the prosperity of the governed. Such prosperity emerges as a moral cause and effect nexus built into reality for the governed.
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Citation
Fawenu Bamidele Olusegun and Job O. Okunoye. “In Search of Good Governance: Domesticating Themes in Psalm 72 for Political Leaders in Nigeria,” Ife Journal of Religions. Vol. 13 (2017): 17-36.