PHILOSOPHIA POLITICA

Political deception is one of the familiar tactic used by politicians to sway the masses and further their political aims; this is not new in Nigerian politics and politics all over the world. Political leaders in Nigeria have applied this tool in every way possible: during campaigns and even during their tenure in office. The question of how far this deception can go to be considered morally wrong is a big question. Thispaper raises certain moral and pertinent questions on the ways which political deception has affected the fight against COVID-19 in Nigeria: Do political leaders have the right to lie to their followers? is playing politics with COVID-19 pandemic morally justifiable? Can employing deceptive tactics when handling the pandemicbe morally justifiable? Hannah Arendt establishes that lying in politics is real and a challenge to both local and international politics and that such lies are always counterproductive. Using the analysis method, this paper holds that lying and other deceptive acts by political leaders during this pandemicis morally wrong and counterproductive. It violates democratic and moral principles and creates an atmosphere of mistrust between the people and their leaders. It further erodes the already fragile relationship between the Nigerian people and their leaders and this is detrimental to the fight against COVID- 19 in Nigeria.

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