ABSTRACT

This study examines the problems of Nigeria’s constitutional democracy in the light of John Rawls political philosophy. It evinced that Nigeria is not fully a democratic nation since the dividend of democracy has not been adequately attained, especially in the areas of political stability, ethnic politics, and equitable distribution of social and economic goods. It has been discovered that the level of social injustice currently prevailing in Nigeria is reaching alarming heights, and citizens are beginning to feel the effect in the level of discontent amongst the citizenry, as demonstrated by various ethnic crises and uprisings in the country. The paper argued that the solution to these social and political problems caused by Nigeria’s constitutional democracy can be realized if Nigerian political leaders adopt the philosophical practice of John Rawls "overlapping consensus."