THE SUPERVENIENCE OF POWERS: A PARADIGMATIC INTERVENTION OF OFO IN THE EXERCISE OF DEMOCRATIC POWER IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Nigeria’s democratic experience has been characterized by persistent challenges including corruption, electoral malpractices, abuse of power, and legitimacy deficits that undermine effective governance. The inappropriate exercise of democratic power reveals a fundamental disconnection between imported democratic institutions and indigenous spiritual foundations that command genuine reverence from the Nigerian people. This paper examines how democratic power can achieve legitimacy and effectiveness by supervening upon indigenous religious power systems, specifically the ofo religious symbol of the Ukwuani culture. Using philosophical analysis and hermeneutics, the paper demonstrates that the religious power of ofo, embodying truth, justice, ancestral wisdom, and cosmic accountability, provides the moral foundation necessary for authentic democratic governance. The supervenience relationship establishes spiritual accountability mechanisms that transcend human institutional limitations, ensures democratic power reflects moral principles, and creates collective acceptance. The paper concludes that integrating ofo religious ceremonies and principles into key moments of democratic governance—including oath-taking, policy-making, judicial proceedings, and electoral processes—offers Nigeria a paradigmatic pathway toward legitimate, accountable, and effective democratic governance that synthesizes universal democratic principles with particular African spiritual realities