Leadership Crisis and Corruption in Contemporary Nigeria: Implications for National Development

Abstract

Considering the enormity of material and human endowment in Nigeria, the country’s development in all facets has been less than inspiring. More benign is the way in which less endowed countries far below the level of development achieved at independence by Nigeria have attained far higher levels of development way beyond Nigeria. This low level of development is blamed on the prevalence of grand corruption that has been an undeniable part of the country’s history. With the Nigerian Military consumed by the very monster it sought to address, it was time to return to democracy in 1999. While democratic institutions are central to the efficient running of government, exemplary political leadership is key to the functional efficiency of any democracy. Again, unfortunately, political leadership was steeped in moral crisis and failed to rise above corruption and has rather accentuated it since 1999. This is evidenced by the rising profile of Nigeria on the global corruption index on an annual basis from 2000-2014. To break the cycle of grand corruption, the people must regain the power to exercise choice of leadership in a fair and credible election. Until an exemplary political leader emerges to drive the democratic project, it may be a long way off for the country to reduce corruption and achieve commensurate development.