Leadership Subterfuge and the Rise of Democratic Dictatorship: Implications on the Performance of the Nigerian Economy

Abstract

This paper sought to critically examine leadership subterfuge and the rise of democratic dictatorship in Nigeria while underscoring the implications on the performance of the country’s economy. The paper adopted content analytical method of secondary data exploration to deal succinctly and concretely on the nexus between leadership, democracy and the economy; but queried the subterfuge, dictatorship as having illicit implications on the Nigerian nation. The ‘Non-dominance’ theory was adopted so as to give a clear narrative from the theoretical and empirical point of view of the study. The paper argues that more now than ever before, Nigeria is witnessing leadership insensitivity, resulting from leaders’ tactless attitude at its crowning, giving rise, not only to democratic dictatorship but also an overwhelming socio-economic downturn, orchestrating an economy enmeshed in abject poverty, hunger, unemployment and gross underdevelopment. The paper found that the hijacked elections in Nigeria and the recruitment system of who-knows-who characterised by impositions of candidates, the impunity among party stalwarts in the choice of party flag bearers in Nigeria, the accorded immunity and power clauses for elected leaders and the ethnic chauvinism, occasioned by the multiethnic nationalities in Nigeria, are the manifestations of leadership subterfuge and destructive leadership crumpling the Nigerian economy. The paper recommended amongst others that there should be earnest efforts channeled towards propagating strong leadership values of consultation, consensus, selflessness, transparency, accountability and above all patriotism. And that we must ensure to cleanse our political system from the emergence of accidental leadership and the enthronement of mediocre.