DEMOCRACY AND DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA: THE CHALLENGES OF LEADERSHIP

ABSTRACT Nigeria is the fourth world largest democracy with a population of over 160 million and world sixth largest oil supplier and blessed with economic potentials, but majority of the Nigerian population is poor due bad governance. Everyone expected the return of Nigeria to democratic rule will bring about development. On the contrary Nigeria is still left behind in this sphere of human development. The study is basically qualitative approach to analyze the relationship between democracy and development in the Nigerian context, concentrating on the fourth republic. Relying on poverty reduction, employment generation, effective healthcare delivery, revenue and expenditure, Gross Domestic Products (GDP), foreign exchange rate, Good governance and Human Rights Development Index (HDI). The study argued that, though Nigeria experienced twenty three years of uninterrupted democratic rule, available evidence revealed that, there is no clear direct relationship between democracy and development in the Nigerian context, in essence the first twenty three years of democratic dispensation in the country has in no way improved remarkable development. The study also examined the challenges of leadership in Nigerian democratic political system. It identifies the origin, challenges of leadership and the prospects of the search for a nationalist governing class towards building a develop and viable country. The study relied on secondary data and method of content analysis. Generally, it argued that poor leadership has stymied the nation’s enormous, economics and political potentials. In other words, it contended that as a result of leadership failure in Nigerian political system which has caused acute poverty, political instability, insurgence, collapse of governmental institutions. The identified issues have erupt a call for resources control by those in the South-South, secession and state of Biafra by those in South-East, Oduduwa state by those in the South-West and; fiscal federalism premised on population and institutionalization of Sharia law in Nigeria by those in the North in Nigeria. All these demands have been weaved and collapsed into one demand popularly known as ‘restructuring’. Recently, the call for restructuring has intensified from Nigerians perhaps due to the economic hardship and the failure of the current ruling political parties especially the All Progress Congress (APC) in fulfilling their electoral promises and manifestos. However, it recommended and advance that genuine leadership will need an honest, courageous and credible followership, which is less Vulnerable to the manipulation politics of the ruling elite. This class should secure democratized access to economic resources and political objects to foster trust, confidence and commitment. The study recommended strict adherence to the tenets and principles of democracy for development to be achieved.