Leadership Failure and the Burdens of Upholding Democratic Values in Nigerian Democracy

Abstract

Nigeria’s attempt at fostering democratic governance has continued to suffer series of set-backs, several years after gaining Political Independence. The causes of these, is not however farfetched. These include the difficulty of integrating the indigenous political values with the alien political system, and the dearth of true National leaders, who could have successfully driven the new innovations. This is in addition to the weak institution that has continued to rob the Nation the opportunity to develop Political culture that is in tandem with the demand of Democratic Principles of our times. Furthermore, the Institutional failure, has not only aggravated matters but, is sustained by the corrupt nature of Politics played in Nigeria. In effect, the direct consequence of all these, is people’s lack of interest in any process aimed at building National consciousness. Tribal sentiment which has overwhelmed the Nigerian Political terrain over the years has also prevented the development of the sense of Nationalism because there is no genuine and generally recognized rallying point to achieve such. In Nigeria, people’s orientation is narrowed by growing suspicion and fear of domination reinforced by Ethnic Politics. It is therefore the aim of this Paper to emphasize on the danger of leadership failure to the development of democracy, and also to proffer solutions that will whistle down to the consequences of Ethnic Politics on leadership failure. To surmount this vice, this could be achieved by encouraging the creation of forum to re-orient and to re-emphasis on the need to adopt cherished principles of Democratic values that are anchored on mutual respect and accommodation of groups’ interest. For the Democratic government to strive, the Nation’s cultural diversity should be harmonized, and thereafter harnessed into United front that could be inimical toward propelling general Nationalistic attitudes devoid of Ethnic sentiment, and also extolling and embracing qualities aimed at willingly, or built on rendering selfless services to the Nation.