Crisis of leadership in Nigeria : an analysis of national psyche, political behaviour and nation-building

Abstract

Nigeria is a nation polarized into sectional, religious and ethnic contestations leading to incessant crisis of leadership. The crisis of leadership in Nigeria reflects the national psyche of the Nigerian state as expressed by the political behaviour of its elites among others. This paper considers a framework for understanding the root causes and consequences of the incessant crisis of leadership in Nigeria and the implications of this crisis for national integration and nation-building. It identifies the way in which the Nigerian state was constituted, the divide and rule colonial policy, the 'two publics' mentality of its elites and the character of early nationalism as root causes of this crisis. It also proffers recommendations on the way forward including the sanctions against negative political behaviour, transcultural leadership and public enlightenment.