IDENTITY POLITICS AND ITS SECURITY IMPLICATION TO NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT: THE NIGERIA’S EXPERIENCE SINCE 1914

Udeagwu, C. Okechukwu, Department of History and International Studies, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. co.udeagwu@unizik.edu.ng Chidiobi, Okechukwu Christian Department of History and International Studies, Federal University, Lokoja. okechukwuchris2020@gmail.com Abstract Nigeria is the largest black population in the world with different socio-cultural, political, economic background, and beliefs. The Federal Republic of Nigeria’s constitution proclaimed Nigeria unity in diversity, considering its ethno-religious heterogeneity. The political configuration of Nigeria demonstrates the characteristic tendencies of sub-national loyalty. This paper examines identity politics and its security implications to national development: the Nigeria’s experience since 1914. Primary and Secondary sources of data interpreted by qualitative historical and descriptive method of analysis are utilized in this work in investigating how identity politics results to security threat to national development in Nigeria. This paper adopts structural-conflict theory as theoretical framework of analysis. The paper argues that much of the scholarly works on identity politics tailors toward electoral process, national integration, good governance, conflict and gender while the security implication of identity politics to national development in Nigeria has not been adequately undertaken. This paper finds that Nigeria’s political landscape of marginalization feelings, multi-ethnic and minority characteristic nature encourages identity politics with unsurmountable security threats to national development in various ways. The paper concludes that security implications of identity politics will continue to prevail and to that extent, affects Nigeria’s unity in diversity hence, social group identity interest and sense of injustice and marginalization exist. However, the paper recommends true and operational federalism, equal and inclusive political participation, good governance, equitable distribution and allocation of resources, rule of law in political process and among others to shun identity politics and achieve national development in Nigeria. Keywords: Identity Politics, National Development, Security Implication, Nigeria, Introduction Nigeria, as one of the prominent countries in Africa with large population and natural resources is awash with the problem of identity politics which has shaped the political, economic, social, and security aspects of the country endeavours to reposition itself and achieve national development. The reason for this is the failure to ensure the integration of the various segments of the country with different ethnic and religious characteristics, with the concept of identity politics being placed at the center of political discussions. Nigeria’s large number of ethnic groups, inequalities among the people in areas of resource endowment, and access to state power, coupled with highly developed and factionalized indigenous bourgeoisie ambition to control the central government makes her ethnocultural situation perhaps, the most complicated in Africa. Unarguably, Nigeria transited to an independent nation in 1960 with a number of unresolved issues. There exist numerous ethnic groups with diverse languages, customs, beliefs system and levels of political sophistication within the geopolitical boundaries of Nigeria. Those whom the reins of power were handed over by the British unfortunately failed to harness different political backgrounds to form formidable and unbiased united Nigeria’s project, far from the British colonial state and administrative pattern of divide and rule. lack of trust among the various ethnic groups that made up the Federation and their struggle for political and economic relevance became obvious. Shortly after independence, those latent divisive elements within Nigerian politics came to the forefront and revolves round the question of ethnic majority or minorities syndrome, lopsided economic and political structures led to identity politics which resulted to security problems that eventually affected national development in Nigeria.1 Nigeria’s domestic policy failed to reflect the social needs and aspirations of an individual, group, class or culture. The ideology of moving Nigeria forward based on the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that states, Nigeria’s core value shall be ‘unity in diversity’ enshrined in equity, justice, and fair play: respect and care for humanity that ought to be the guiding principles for the survival of Nigeria remain an instrument of political maneuvering. From independence to the collapse of the first Republic, inept leadership, ethnic chauvinism, nepotism, favouritism, sectional discrimination, various forms of corruption, the politics of winner-take-all mentality and institutionalization of elitist politics that characterized Nigeria’s scene, undoubtedly, facilitate identity politics.2 Above all, security implications arising from identity politics affect the harnessing and enhancement of ‘unity in diversity’ to capture the essence of national development in Nigeria. Considering the heterogeneous nature of Nigeria, this paper looks at the conceptual meaning and theoretical analysis of identity politics, theoretical framework, historical overview and manifestations of identity politics in Nigeria, security implication of identity politics and national development in Nigeria, and conclusion.  Conceptual Meaning and Theoretical Analysis of Identity Politics The concept of identity politics cannot be understood without prior grasp of the explanation of identity itself. The meaning of identity is complex and fluid because it depends on range of factors. The concept is shaped by individual characteristics, family dynamics, historical factors, social and political contexts. James Jacob and Owhor Nathan Oviri refer identity as a combination of socio-cultural characteristics which individuals share, or are presumed to share, with others on the basis of which one group may be distinguished or recognized from each other. They further argued that identity is a state of having unique identifying characteristics held by no other person or thing, and it is the individual characteristics by which a person or thing is recognized.3 James D. Fearon asserts that: Identity is people’s concepts of who they are, of what sort of people they are, and how they relate to others. Identity is used in this book to describe the way individuals and groups define themselves and are defined by others on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, language, and culture. Identity refers to the ways in which individuals and collectivities are distinguished in their social relations with other individuals and collectivities. Identities are prescriptive representations of political actors themselves and of their relationships to each other.4 By Jacob, Oviri, and James’s explanations, identity simply connotes our sense of who we are as individuals and as members of social group. It means our sense of how others may perceive and label us. Our ideas about our identity are also

Government Capital Expenditure and Economic Growth in Nigeria: A DisaggregatedAnalysis (1981-2021)

Remigius Chinwoke Ejinkonye (PhD)Department of Banking and Finance, College of Management Sciences,Evangel University, Akaeze, Ebonyi State.E-mail: rejinkonye@evangeluniversity.edu.ng(Corresponding author)&Edith Nkiruka Mazeli (PhD)Department of Banking and Finance, Faculty of Management Sciences,Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, Anambra State.E-mail: edithmazeli@yahoo.com&Zakari Muhammed Uloghobui (MSc)Department of Banking and Finance, School of Financial Studies,Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State.E-mail: zakarimuhammed2001@yahoo.com ABSTRACTThe study examined the nexus between government capital expenditure and economic growth inNigeria for the period 1981 to 2021. Nigerian economy is facing challenges of dwindling revenuefrom crude oil on which the country highly rely for sustenance and inadequate diversification ofthe productive sectors of the economy. This economic downturn is adversely affecting funding ofprojects hence there is reliance on borrowing to help finance her infrastructural needs. This couldbe why the desired economic growth is not being observed. The dependent variable was grossdomestic product, while independent variables were administration, social & community services,economic services and transfers capital expenditures. The specific objectives were to determinethe relationship of: administration capital expenditure (ADCAEXP) and gross domestic product;social & community services capital expenditure (SCSCAEXP) and gross domestic product;economic services capital expenditure (ESCAEXP) and gross domestic product and transferscapital expenditure (TRCAEXP) and gross domestic product. The model used was GDPt = b0+b1ADCAEXPt+b2 SCSCAEXPt+b3 ESCAEXPt+b4 TRCAEXP + et. The research design was ex-postfacto, data sourced from the CBN statistical bulletin and analyzed using ordinary least squareregression. The hypotheses were tested at 5% level of significance using Eviews10 software. Thefindings showed that administration capital expenditure had positive and significant effect (prob. Estimation Command: LS GDP C ADCAEXP SCSCAEXP ESCAEXP TRCAEXP Estimation Equation: GDP = C(1) + C(2)ADCAEXP + C(3)SCSCAEXP + C(4)ESCAEXP + C(5)TRCAEXP Substituted Coefficients: GDP = -237.790920673 + 305.365640865ADCAEXP – 51.4999624979SCSCAEXP – 63.4705896542ESCAEXP + 162.327594479TRCAEXPThe analysis showed that the constant coefficients of B was -237.790920673.In view of the model used for this study:GDPt = b0+b1 ADCAEXP t+b2 SCSCAEXP t+b3 ESCAEXPt+b4 TRCAEXP + et ……Logos: African Journal of Philosophy and Studies. Vol. 6, 2023http://www.africanjournalofphilosophy.com123The summary of the linear regression result obtained from the study can be stated as:GDP = -237.790920673 + 305.365640865ADCAEXP -51.4999624979SCSCAEXP-63.4705896542ESCAEXP + 162.327594479TRCAEXP …………………The above regression model on the effect of government capital expenditure on economicgrowth of Nigeria showed that GDP averages -237.79 over time. Keeping all other variablesconstant except administration capital expenditure, a unit change in administration capitalexpenditure will result to a 305.37 increase in gross domestic product. Barring all other variablesconstant except social & community services capital expenditure, a unit change in social &community services capital expenditure will result to a 51.50 decrease in gross domestic product.Keeping all other variables constant except economic services capital expenditure, a unit changein economic services capital expenditure will result to a 63.47 decrease in gross domestic product.Also, keeping all other variables constant except transfers’ capital expenditure, a unit change intransfers’ capital expenditure will result to a 162.33 increase in gross domestic product.The regression analysis showed the probability values of the independent variables ofadministration capital expenditure (0.0114), social and community services capital expenditure(0.8073), economic services capital expenditure (0.2325) and transfers capital expenditure(0.0028). The R-squared value of 0.895724 which implies that 89.6% changes in the dependentvariable (gross domestic product) are explained or influenced by the independent variables(administration capital expenditure, social and community services capital expenditure, economicservices capital expenditure and transfers capital expenditure). The probability (f=statistic) valueof 0.000000 showed that the independent variables are jointly significant to gross domesticproduct. The F-statistic regression value is 77.30959. The Durbin Watson statistic value of1.249442 is closer to 2 than 0 thereby signifying that there is no first order correlation amongsuccessive residuals.Test of HypothesesDecision rule: Accept the null hypothesis if the significance probability value is greater than thelevel of significance (5%), otherwise reject.Logos: African Journal of Philosophy and Studies. Vol. 6, 2023http://www.africanjournalofphilosophy.com124Summary statistics for hypothesis testing:Hypothesis Variable Coefficient Std. Error t-statistic Probability DecisionOne ADCAEXP 305.3656 114.5290 2.666793 0.0114 Reject nullTwo SCSCAEXP -51.49996 209.6165 -0.245687 0.8073 Accept nullThree ESCAEXP -63.47059 52.26137 -1.214484 0.2325 Accept nullFour TRCAEXP 162.3276 50.61368 3.207188 0.0028 Reject nullHypothesis One: H0: Administration capital expenditure has no significant effect on grossdomestic product in Nigeria.The outcome of the regression analysis showed a positive coefficient and t-statisticprobability of 0.0114 which is lower than the 0.05 level of significance, hence we reject the nullhypothesis and accept the alternate hypothesis. We therefore conclude that administration capitalexpenditure has a positive and significant effect on gross domestic product in Nigeria for the periodreviewed.Hypothesis Two: H0: Social and community services capital expenditure has no significant effecton gross domestic product in Nigeria.The outcome of the regression analysis showed a negative coefficient and t-statisticprobability of 0.8073 which is higher than the 0.05 level of significance, hence we accept the nullhypothesis. We therefore conclude that Social and community services capital expenditure has anegative and non-significant effect on gross domestic product in Nigeria for the period reviewed.Hypothesis Three: H0: Economic services capital expenditure has no significant effect on grossdomestic product in Nigeria.The outcome of the regression analysis showed a negative coefficient and t-statisticprobability of 0.2325 which is higher than the 0.05 level of significance, hence we accept the nullLogos: African Journal of Philosophy and Studies. Vol. 6, 2023http://www.africanjournalofphilosophy.com125hypothesis. We therefore conclude that economic services capital expenditure has a negative andnon-significant effect on gross domestic product in Nigeria for the period reviewed.Hypothesis Four: H0: Transfers capital expenditure has no significant effect on gross domesticproduct in Nigeria.The outcome of the regression analysis showed a positive coefficient and t-statisticprobability of 0.0028 which is lower than the 0.05 level of significance, hence we reject the nullhypothesis and accept the alternate hypothesis. We therefore conclude that transfers capitalexpenditure has a positive and significant effect on gross domestic product in Nigeria for the periodreviewed.Discussion of findingsThis study disaggregated the capital expenditure of the government and assessed theirindividual relationship with gross domestic product. The finding showed that administrationcapital expenditure had a positive and significant relationship with gross domestic product inNigeria for the period reviewed. This finding is in line with the apriori expectation of the study.This also agrees with the finding by John (2017) and Odubuasi (2020).The finding on social & community services capital expenditure showed that it had

DEBT INDICES AND FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF OIL ANDGAS FIRMS IN NIGERIA

Oketah, Felix Okechukwu, Prof. Ifeoma Mary Okwo, and Dr. Ikechukwu EzugwuCorrespondence: felix.oketah@esut.edu.ng ABSTRACTThe study examined the effect of debt indices on financial performance of oil and gas companiesin Nigeria. The specific objectives are to evaluate the effect of debt ratio (DR), debt to equity ratio(DER) and interest coverage ratio (ICR) on return on assets (ROA). The study anchored on theTrade-off theory and agency theory. Ex-post facto research design was adopted wherein secondarydata sourced from audited financial statements of three (3) selected oil and gas companies (TotalNigeria Plc, 11 Nigeria Plc and Oando Nigeria Plc) listed on Nigerian Exchange Group. A periodof 12 years (2010–2021) was used for the analysis. The results of the panel data regression analysisrevealed that the predictor variables of DR had negative (-0.218419) and significant (0.0012) effecton ROA; DER had a negative (-0.001717) and nonsignificant (0.6430) effect on ROA; while ICRhad a positive (1.85E-06) and nonsignificant (0.5160) effect on ROA of oil and gas companies inNigeria. The implication of the finding is that a higher interest coverage ratio is associated withbetter financial performance in terms of ROA. The study concluded that among the explanatoryvariables examined only the interest coverage ratio had a positive effect on the financialperformance of oil and gas companies in Nigeria. The adjusted R-squared (R2) of the study is31%. The study recommended amongst other things that oil and gas companies should maintain abalance debt structure and avoid taking excessive debt that could strain their ability to generateprofits. They should also aim at maintaining a healthy interest coverage ratio to ensure that theycan comfortably meet interest payment obligation and avoid financial strain.Keywords: Debt Indices, Financial Performance, Oil and Gas Companies, Debt Ratio, Debt toEquity Ratio, Interest Coverage Ratio, Return on Assets, Trade-off Theory, Agency Theory

WOMEN AND DYNAMICS OF FOOD SECURITY IN PRE-COLONIALNIGERIA

Ezedinachi, Ifeoma Edith Ph.D. MHSNDepartment of History and International StudiesGodfrey Okoye University, Ugwuomu-Nike, Enugu- Nigeria08037420431 ifeomaezedinachi@gmail.com AbstractThe attainments of women in pre-colonial Nigeria and their inestimable contributions to foodsecurity of their respective families and societies were by no means a homogeneous experience.This is because women at individual and group levels across what is today, Nigeria, played criticaland significant roles in their different communities, kingdoms and empires to impact society in amanner worthy of historical attention. The economy was largely subsistence in nature and thewomen in addition to agricultural production engaged in local industry and trade. It is againstthis backdrop that this paper attempts to unravel the different roles played by women during theperiod under study and to this end Marxist/Socialist and Postmodernist theories were adopted.The paper submits that women across the different epochs of Nigeria’s existence, played active,positive and constructively impactful roles in pre-colonial era, thus, this should inspirecontemporary Nigerian women to higher levels of participation, productivity and performance inthe critical task of nation building. The work employs qualitative research design, adoptinghistorical research method while relying on primary and secondary sources.Keywords: Society, Economy, Postmodernist, Family, Agriculture.IntroductionNigeria lies between 40N and 140N and it is bounded in the north by the Sahara Desert and in thesouth by the Gulf of Guinea, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean.1 The pre-colonial Nigeria was not astatic era during which all socio-economic and political system existed in a finished and final form.Apparently, different types of state system and societies existed. There were kingdoms, empires,states, city states and acephalous societies. The different nationalities ethnic groups that wereeventually welded together as a political union called Nigeria had existed independent of oneanother prior to British colonialism.2 Nigeria has about 250-300 ethnic groups as measured by selfidentification or the presence of different languages3, most of whom have distinct customs,traditions, and languages. The larger and politically dominant groups include the Yoruba, the Igboand the Hausa. Other prominent but less numerous groups include the Edo, the Efik, Ibibio, theNupe, the Tiv and the Kanuri. The position of women in pre-colonial Nigeria obviously differedin the vast number of ethnic groups in Nigeria. Women in pre-colonial societies held acomplementary position to men although patrilineal and patriarchal kinship structurespredominated Nigerian societies.Logos: African Journal of Philosophy and Studies. Vol. 6, 2023http://www.africanjournalofphilosophy.com78In pre-colonial Nigeria, women were mainly involved in agriculture as suppliers of labour, foodcrop and livestock producers, marketers of peasant farm surplus and transporters of farm suppliesand farm products between the farm and home.4 This they did in addition to local industry whichthey perform in a harsh, hostile and discriminatory socio-economic and cultural environment.Thus, the image of a helpless, oppressed, and marginalized group has undermined their properstudy, and little recognition has been granted to the various integral functions that women haveperformed in pre-colonial Nigeria.In fact, the contributions of women in economic productions in agricultural and non-agriculturalsectors continue to be inadequately recognized and undervalued. Regrettably women have beensidelined in decision making and these power imbalances have impeded the progress of womenand their real integration into the society. Nonetheless, the attainments of women in pre-colonialera and their invaluable roles and contributions to food security of their respective societies werequite enormous.Conceptual ClarificationWomanA woman is an adult female person, who has passed the age of puberty. Womanhood was definedwithin the African cosmic order as “a human being endowed with all the capacities and talentsrequired to effectively function and make an impact on all levels of life within the society 5. Theabove African definition of woman implies that human beings are equally created and endowed toeffectively participate in the life of the community. In the light of the above, Women were thereforeseen in the African traditional context to be effectively and dynamically involved in all levels ofthe social process as they actively participate in the life of the community. According to ZuluSofala, the world view underscores the idea that both genders (male and female) have the samedivine source even though each has its distinctive roles to play in the life of the community.6Inessence, one cannot do without the other, and any form of inequality is unacceptable.DynamicsDynamics has its origin in the Greek word dynamics, “force, power”.7In physics, dynamics is thestudy of bodies in motion and changes in that motion, and that idea can be applied to other areasas well. For example, we refer to “group dynamics” as the way people interact and work together.It is a branch of physical science and subdivision of mechanics that is concerned with the motionof material objects in relation to the physical factors that affect them: force, mass, momentum, andenergy.8 Dynamic can also be defined as a process or system characterized by constant change,activity, or progress. It is a force that stimulates change or progress within a system or process. Itis the forces or properties that stimulate growth, development, or change within a system orprocess.9Of a person, it is positive attitude and full of energy and new ideas, the forces or propertieswhich stimulate growth, development, or change within a system or process. For the purpose ofthis article, dynamics will be viewed in this context.Logos: African Journal of Philosophy and Studies. Vol. 6, 2023http://www.africanjournalofphilosophy.com79Food SecurityFood Security, as defined by the United Nations ‘Committee on World Food Security, means thatall people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritiousfood that meets their food preferences and dietary needs for an active and healthy life.10 FoodSecurity was defined in the 1974 World Food Summit as “availability at all times of adequateworld food supplies of basic foodstuffs to sustain a steady expansion of food consumption and tooffset fluctuations in production and prices”11 In 1983, FAO expanded its concept to includesecuring access by people to available supplies, implying that attention should be balancedbetween the demand and supply side of the food security equation thus: “ensuring that all peopleat all times have both physical and economic access to the basic food that they need”12 FoodSecurity exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access tosufficient, safe and nutritious food which meets

LANGUAGE IN LITURGICAL PERSPECTIVE:A STYLISTIC ANALYSIS OF COHESIVE DEVICES IN THE TEXT OFCONSECRATION IN THE HOLY MASS

ByGeorge Chidiebere UmehPhone: 08068073321 / 08150248194Email(s): georgenwaumeh@gmail.com/george.umeh@funai.edu.ngDepartment of English & Literary StudiesAlex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu Alike, Ebonyi State Nigeria ABSTRACTWhen a text is not properly bound, it does not cohere. If it does not cohere, meaning is hinderedor entirely distorted hence; the aim of such work is defeated. This work which is a linguisticstylistic study of the text of consecration in Catholic Holy Mass, in addition to analyzing the datafrom all levels of stylistic analysis, investigated the extent to which the cohesive devices in thedifferent but complementary segments of the text helped to drive home the liturgical/ theologicalmessage of the mass. The research was conducted using the theoretical thrust of M. A. K.Halliday’s systemic functional linguistics with particular focus on the textual metafunction. Thegrammatical category cohesion as a stylistic device was investigated in the data with a view tounearthing the method of application of cohesive devices for achieving linguistic stylistic effect ina liturgical text. Findings reveal that various cohesive devices were stylistically applied formultiple linguistic reasons paramount among which was to foreground information. At thesyntactic level of analysis, it was discovered that the section of the text that required the people’sresponse were all written with very simple sentences for easier comprehension and fuller liturgicalparticipation and concentration. It was concluded that, aside being stylistically crafted to suit thepurpose of religious worship, the text was also properly bound by the appropriate cohesive devicesto make a complete prayer.KeywordsText, Stylistics, Systemic functional linguistics, Cohesion, Eucharistic Prayer 1Logos: African Journal of Philosophy and Studies. Vol. 6, 2023http://www.africanjournalofphilosophy.com61INTRODUCTIONAs no two authors write exactly the same way, so are no two texts exactly similar even if they areon the same subject matter. As many as there are issues that give rise to texts, so are there stylesor approaches to such texts. Style therefore talks about peculiarities in language use while Stylisticsstudies those peculiarities. Language is crucial in human interactions because it is the means bywhich humans communicate ideas, feelings, observations and other experiences of life, (Yule2004, Lyons 2004). As scholars have always maintained, language has the dual features of formand meaning; and whether in the written or spoken form, communication is believed not to havetaken place when the hearer is unable to elicit meaning from the message passed across. To ensurethat meaning is effectively elicited, a speaker or a writer is normally conscious of his/her languagechoice. In this respect, linguistic elements are consciously selected to faithfully reflect the contextand situation under which communication has occurred, (Owolabi 2014).Language is not used in a vacuum, it is contextual. In formal linguistic study such as this,context is seen in its broader sense of use where it may refer to any aspects of an occasion in whicha speech-act takes place, including the social setting and the status of both the speaker and theperson who’s addressed. Sometimes this is called social context. This is different from ordinarycommunication and composition where context refers to the words and sentences that surroundany part of a discourse which help to determine its meaning. Words and most other linguisticconcepts are not independent entities. They depend for their force and also for their meaning, onemotional associations and historical overtones, and derive much of their effect from the impactof the whole passage in which they occur. Taken out of their context, they are falsified. Halliday(1979, p.57) maintains that meaning should be analyzed not only within the linguistic system butalso taking into account the social system in which it occurs. In order to accomplish this, both textand context must be considered. And it is based on context predictions that meanings of utterancesare made. That therefore means that language is used in social situations to achieve particularlinguistic goal. A situation could be formal or informal, hostile or friendly, casual or cordial whilethe medium of language could be spoken or written. As situations vary so do language use. Enyi(2013) says “in some situations, the use of language could be stereotyped, ritualized andconservative such that there is no room for creative and innovative use of language. Othersituations may require specialized use of language technically called register”.A religious service such as the Holy Mass in the Catholic Church presents a veritable socialsituation or context for language use. Although worshipping God takes various forms some ofwhich are linguistically silent like personal meditation, most forms of worship are sociallyinteractive. This means that a great deal of language is employed in communication duringworship. Catholicism categorizes its prayers according to degrees. The Catholic Holy Mass is thehighest form of prayer in the catholic faith. From the beginning to the end, the mass is dramaticand interactive and the chief resource for this interaction is language. Specifically segmented intofour (4) parts according to the Roman Rites of the Catholic Church – the Introductory Rites, theLogos: African Journal of Philosophy and Studies. Vol. 6, 2023http://www.africanjournalofphilosophy.com62Liturgy of the Word, the Liturgy of the Eucharist and the Concluding Rites- our study focuses onthe Liturgy of the Eucharist. The Liturgy of the Eucharist in itself equally consists of three parts:the preparation of the gifts, the Eucharistic Prayer and the Communion. The Eucharistic Prayerwhich is the crux of this study is also further divided into the Eucharistic prayer one to four (I-IV).More specifically, this study centers on the Eucharistic Prayer 1 which is otherwise called theRoman Canon.The Eucharist is the epicenter of the mass which is the highest form of catholic prayer. TheEucharist is the life wire of the church in catholic faith and so deserves a great deal of attention.Emphasizing the Importance of the Eucharist in Catholic Church, Melissa Patruzzello, an editorof the Encyclopaedia Britannica says:Roman Catholic theology preserves the early understanding of the Eucharist asa sacrifice in its teaching on the mass, and it has firmly insisted that the mass repeatsthe rite that Jesus told his disciples to repeat. The rite is the memorial of the originalsacrifice of Christ. It is an effective commemoration of his death that also makespresent the sacrifice on the cross.According to the Eucharistic doctrine of Roman Catholicism, the elements ofthe consecrated bread and wine are transubstantiated

APPRAISAL OF RENE DESCARTES RATIONALISM AS A MODE OF DEVELOPINGCRITICAL THINKING SKILLS FOR LEARNING MATHEMATICS IN NIGERIA’SSECONDARY SCHOOLS

Henry AmujiDepartment of Philosophy, Religion and Peace Studies,Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki AbstractMathematics is accepted as a science subject concerned with critical reasoning but majority ofstudents fail it in their examinations. This is the reason for appraising rationalism of ReneDescartes as an important mode for developing critical thinking skills for learning mathematics insecondary school. This study will also aid to improve the interest and poor performance ofsecondary school students in mathematics. In this way, their grades in external Examinations suchas West African Senior School Certificate Examination will be high. The method adopted for thisstudy is expository and hermeneutical design of critical thinking and mathematical concepts. TheChicago style was used in the citations. This study intends to give an explanatory framework onthe concept of critical thinking in learning mathematics. More so, the work will indicate thepractical application of the skill of critical thinking in learning mathematics. This research workcovered learning of mathematics in secondary schools. The implication of this study is tosignificantly reduce failures in mathematics. It is ultimately urgent and important to reduce themassive failure of mathematics in secondary schools. Hence, the skills of critical thinking areaccepted as a very essential step in every field of learning, and more so, in doing mathematics inthe most recent decades. Therefore, this study draws insight from Descartes’ who is amathematician and rational thinker on the significance of critical thinking ability, particularly inlearning mathematics. 17 Jeremy, J G., Craig, G., Frasher, J.L., et alia. “Mathematics” Encyclopedia Britannica Inc, (2019),https://www.britannica.com Accessed January 7, 2021.18 Jonathan Barnes. The Cambridge Companion to Aristotle, (USA: Cambridge University Press, 1995), 2719 Alfred Tarski. A Decision Method for Elementary Algebra and Geometry, (California: Santa Monica,RAND Corporation, 1948).20 Lou Van Dries. Mathematical Logic Lecture Notes, (2016), P.2, https://facultymath.illinois.edu AccessedMay 3, 202121 Jose Ferreriros. “The road to modern logic-An interpretation”, Journal article, The Bulletin of symboliclogic Vol.7, (Association for Symbolic logic, 2001), 443.22 Victor Katz. A History of Mathematics, 2nd Edition, (New York: Addison-Wisley Company Incorporated,1998), 686.23 Aikihiro Kanamori. “Cohen and set theory” Journal Article, The Bulletin of Symbolic Logic, Vol. 14,No.3, (2008), P. 351-37824 Jose Ferreiros. “The road to modern logic-An interpretation”, Journal article, 441-48425 Abram Stoylar. Introduction to Elementary Mathematical Logic, (USA: Dover Publications, 1983), 326Federal Republic of Nigeria, National policy on education, (Lagos: Ministry of information, PrintingDivision, 2014), 14-18.27 Abdul Gafoor and Abidha Kurukkan. “Why high school students feel mathematics difficult? Anexploration of effective belief online submission”, A paper presented at the UGC sponsored nationalseminar on Pedagogy of Teacher Trend and Challenges, (India: 2015) https://eric.ed.gov Accessed April5, 202128 Mohd Rustam Rameli & Azlina Kosnin. “The survey on mathematics achievement goal orientationamong Malaysia students”(Application of rasch measurement, India: 2017), https://www.researchgate.netAccessed on June 3,202129 Michael Aristidou. “Is Mathematics Logic Really Necessary in Teaching Mathematical Proofs?” AthensJournal of Education Vol. 7 Issue (1), (2020), 99-122 https://doi.org/10.30958/aje.7-1-5 Accessed on June15, 202130 Rene Descartes. Discourse on method and meditations on First Philosophy 4th edition, Translated byDonald A. (Cress Indianapolis/Cambridge: Hackett Publishing Company, 1998), 1231 Rene Descartes. The Method, Meditations and Philosophy, Translated from the original texts, with a newintroductory, essay, historical and critical by John Veitch, L.L.D, (Washington: M. Walter Dunne Publisher,1901), https://oll.libertyfund.org, Accessed 3/9/2132 Maria Popova. Rules of the Mind: Descartes’ 12 Timeless Tenets of Critical Thinking,https://www.brainpickings.org Accessed September 4, 2021Logos: African Journal of Philosophy and Studies. Vol. 6, 2023http://www.africanjournalofphilosophy.com50 33 Ian Maclean. Rene Desacartes A Discourse on the Method, A New Translation, (USA: Oxford UniversityPress, 2006), 1734 Samuel Enoch Stumpf. Philosophy: History and Problems, (New York: Mc-Graw Hill, 5th Edition, 1994),227-22835 Frederick Copleston. History of Philosophy, Vol.4, (New York: Continuum Book, 2003), 7236 Maclean. Rene Descartes: A Discourse on the Method, A New Translation, (USA: Oxford UniversityPress, 2006), 19.37 Rene Descartes. “Rules for directing the mind” in the Philosophical works of Descartes Vol.1(Trans.)Haldane E.D and Ross G.R.T, (Cambridge: Murray Printing Co., 1911), 9.38 David W Hamlyn. The theory of knowledge, (London: the Macmillan Press Ltd, 1970).39 Monroe Curtis Beardsley. The European Philosophers from Descartes to Nietzsche, (Mordern Library2002), 3340 Copleston, History of Philosophy, Vol.4, New York: Continuum Book, 2003, 8541 Karl Popper. Conjectures and Refutation, (London: Routledge, 1963), 2642 Hamlyn. The theory of knowledge, London: the Macmillan Press Ltd, 1970.43 Britannica. Online publication, 2021, www.britannica.com Accessed September 1, 202144 Sorell, T. Descartes: A very short introduction, (New York: Oxford University Press, 2000).45 Amicable numbers. https://mathworld.wolfran.com/ThabitibnKurrahRule.html Accessed on September4, 202146 Rene Descartes. 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PLAUSIBILITY OF THE THESIS THAT “PROCESS METAPHYSICS” RESCUESMETAPHYSICS FROM THE ONSLAUGHT OF ANALYTIC PHILOSOPHY

Peter S. Onwe, PhDDepartment of Social ScienceSchool of General StudiesFederal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri AbstractThis paper probes into the Plausibility of the Thesis that Process Metaphysics rescuesMetaphysics from the onslaught of Analytic Philosophy. Analytic philosophy is used todescribe philosophy that proceeds through analysis broadly, by seeking to understand thecomposition of its subject matter out of simple components. Analytic metaphysicians generallytake as little interest in what goes by the name ‘metaphysics’ in non-analytic circles as they doin the ‘metaphysics’ found in New age bookstores. Generally, there is a great gulf fixedbetween analytic philosophers and other philosophers, including non-analytic metaphysicians.Process philosophy is based on the premise that being is dynamic and that the dynamic natureof being should be the primary focus of any comprehensive philosophical account of realityand our place within it. The concern of process philosophy is with the dynamic sense of beingas becoming or occurance, the conditions of spatio-temporal existence, the kinds of dynamicentities, the relationship between mind and world, and the realization of values in action.Process Metaphysics elaborated in process and reality posits ‘an ontology which is based onthe two kinds of existence of entity, that of actual entity and that of abstract entity orabstraction’. Process philosophy is best described as a paradigm of philosophy characterizedby a set of more fundamental assumptions. This paper using critical evaluation submits thatanalytic philosophy objected metaphysics in a way and on the other hand defended it. Processmetaphysics was able to tackle the short comings of metaphysics which made analyticphilosophers reject it.Keywords: Analytic Philosophy, Process Metaphysics, Metaphysics, Actual Entity,PhilosophyIntroductionMetaphysics as it is currently practiced in the English-speaking world, is a heterogeneousdiscipline, comprising a wide variety of philosophical questions and methods of answeringthem. However, our concern here is analytic and process approach to metaphysics. There is adivide between groups of contemporary metaphysicians. Metaphysicians of the Englishspeaking academy line up on one side or another of a supposed “analytic/non-analytic” divide.Many contemporary metaphysicians belong to movements that broke away during the first halfof the last century from what passed at that time, for “analytic philosopphy”. For many in thesemovements, “analytic” became a dirty word, and “analytic metaphysics” practically acontradiction in terms. Call philosophers in these circles “non-analytic metaphysicians”.Logos: African Journal of Philosophy and Studies. Vol. 6, 2023http://www.africanjournalofphilosophy.com2“Paradigmatic non-analytic metaphysical movements include process philosophers, neoThomists, personalists, some phenomenologists, neo-Platonists, some types of idealist and afew Hegel-inspired but non-idealist system builders”1. Non-analytic metaphysicians of allvarieties usually characterize “analytic philosophy” as fundamentally hostile to the deeperquestions of metaphysics.Analytic metaphysicians generally take as little interest in what goes by the name“metaphysics” in non-analytic circles as they do in the “metaphysics” found in New agebookstores. Non-analytic metaphysicians repay the compliment, since they tend to think ofanalytic philosophy construed broadly so as to include the work of both analytic and new wavemetaphysicians as inherently anti-metaphysical. More generally, there is a great gulf fixedbetween analytic philosophers and other philosophers, including non-analytic metaphysicians.Analytic PhilosophyAnalytic philosophy in its primary sense is used to describe philosophy that proceeds viaanalysis broadly, by seeking to understand the composition of its subject matter (or conceptsof that subject matter) out of simple (or simpler) components. In a prominent but secondarysense, analytic philosophy applies to most philosophy carried out in the mainstream of AngloAmerican university philosophy deparments together with philosophy that bears a suitablefamily resemblance to it – work within the analytic tradition.The word “analytic” is associated, in some people’s mind, with the doctrine that mosttraditional philosophical problems, including all the metaphysical ones, are pseudo-problemsarising from misunderstanding about how words work; that philosophical problems can all besolved (or dissolved) by some sort of purely linguistic investigation. It should not be forgottenthat, when it first used to describe the philosophical movement that begins with Frege, Russell,Moore, and Wittgenstein, the expression “analytic philosophy” did not carry theseconnotations. And its extension today includes mainly philosophers who reject generaldeflationary attitudes toward metaphysics. It was on Russell’s lips that “analysis” became, first,a rallying cry in the revolt against idealism; and then the name of the whole movement spawnedby the revolt.Today, once again, the label “analytic” has no anti-metaphysical implications or, at least, itshouldn’t, given its actual extension. Most contemporary philosophers in the analytic campreject blanket dismissals of traditional metaphysical problems, and recognize thatLogos: African Journal of Philosophy and Studies. Vol. 6, 2023http://www.africanjournalofphilosophy.com3“philosophical analysis” inevitably involves much more than simply unpacking the meaningsof ordinary words and idioms. There was a period when many analytic philosophers perhapseven the majority believed that the problems of metaphysics were either demonstrablymeaningless, or resolvable by the clarification of terms or the recitation of platitudes “in aplonking tone of vioce”2.The only definitions of “analytic philosophy” that come close to tracking actual application ofthe term (in the broadest use) are ones that appeal to historical connections and selfidentification. Consider A. P. Martinich’s counterfactual criterion, which comes as close toaccuracy as any proposal seen: analytic philosophers are those who “would have donephilosophy the way Moore, Russell, and Wittgenstein were”3.Across the channel, a group of mathematicians, scientists, and philosophers formed a group inVienna in the 1920’s describing themselves as logical positivists and known as Vienna Circle.Their orientation was rigorously empirical, and they proceeded to reject the whole of enterpriseof metaphysics. “Their ideal for philosophy was the unification of the sciences, hoping therebyto produce a unified system of meaningful and valid knowledge”4. A young former student ofBertrand Russell’s Ludwig Wittgenstein, lived nearby, and though he was not a member of thecircle, he had conversations with them, since his early book, Tractatus logico-philosophicus(1919), was considered by the Vienna Circle to express its philosophical point of view withgreat accuracy. Not only had Wittgenstein said that “whatever can be said at all can be saidclearly”5, he concluded his book by saying that “whereof one cannot speak, thereof one mustbe silent”6. This dictum was less harsh than Hume’s rigorous conclusion in his Enquiry, where,following the implicit logic of his principles of empiricism, he wrote:when we run over libraries, persuaded of these principles, what havoc mustwe make? If we take in our hand any volume; of divinity or schoolmetaphysics, for instance let us