Leadership, Democratization and Good Governance in Nigeria: An Interrogation

Abstract

Leadership, democratization and good governance as concepts have assumed prominence in the world’s history of both underdevelopment and development discourse. In Nigeria, people have continued to experience a severe economic poverty and wretchedness over the years due to leadership that is absence of a moral principle. This frightening situation appears nonstop consequent upon the democratic and military rulers who have been advocating for good governance, economic prosperity and establishment of critical infrastructures since independence in 1960 who are not effective “change agents”. Therefore, the main thrust of this paper is to explore the paradox of political leadership and the challenge of good governance in Nigeria in the midst of abundant human and material resources. The paper is divided into six segments: introduction; theoretical framework; methodology, conceptual debate; the lamentation and ended with recommendations. It adopted transformational leadership theory which canvasses the transformation of people and organizations in a literal sense. The paper recommended the strengthening and creation of more anti-corruption institutions, avoidance of the emergence of accidental leadership and considering of good governance as a right to be demanded and enjoyed by the citizens.