Elitism and Nationalism: The Role of Political Elite on Nation-Building and Development in Nigeria (Published)
The study examines the nexus between political elites and nationalism as well as the role of political elites on nation-building and development in Nigeria. The study utilizes secondary data for overall understanding of the subject matter. Literature were gathered from works of scholars on issues under investigation. The research findings indicates that there is nexus between nationalist feelings and political modernization; nationalist feelings and nation-building; nationalist feelings and development in Nigeria and Africa at large. Nigeria and African continent indeed lacks patriotic political elites that can promote positive changes in political, economic, social and cultural institutions that would guarantee nation-building and development. That the political elites continue to associates primordial politics of ethnicity, religion, regionalism and corruption in governance, political and democratization process of Nigeria. These primitive beliefs and values undermines nation-building and development in Nigeria and most of the African countries. That primordial politics which is the result of lack of nationalist feelings contributed greatly to the collapse of first and second republic as well as current political violence, ethno-religious conflicts and underdevelopment in Nigerian. The study exposed how political elite used primordial politics in achieving their political interests, manipulating their followers and democratization process. The study therefore, recommends that Nigeria’s political modernization, nation-building and development requires patriotic political elites which would promote common feelings, love, integration and unity among the citizens. This invariably can be achieving through political will among leaders, nationalist feelings, social reorientation or vigorous enlightenment campaign on nationhood, good governance, socio-cultural cohesion and tolerance, spirit of true federalism, addressing economic predicaments and zero-tolerance for corruption. This would go a long way in promoting nationalism and facilitating nation-building and development in Nigeria and Africa at large.
Keywords: Development, Nation Building, Nationalism, political elite, political modernization
Leadership Failure and National Integration in Nigeria: Implication for Nation Building (Published)
The study explored the relationship between leadership failure and national integration in the nation building processes in Nigeria. As a nation composed of different ethnic groups, Nigeria has recently witnessed threats of disintegration more than ever before in her political history. This is largely attributed to leadership failure, particularly at the federal level. Successive governments have adopted various approaches to achieve national integration, such as state creation, quota system, federal character, etc. Yet, national integration remains elusive. Therefore, the main objective of this paper is to demonstrate that the principal challenge to national integration in Nigeria is unethical leadership (bad governance). The study adopted the self-reliance theory as the theoretical framework of analysis, to explain the imperative of national integration in the nation building process. The study relied mainly on secondary data, focusing on the importance of ethical leadership in the unification of the country. The study revealed that efforts at national integration have not yielded positive outcomes because the nation’s leaders at various times have not shown impartiality, fairness and justice to all ethnic groups in the country. Hence, the ever increasing agitation and clamour for independence/self-governance by different ethnic groups. The paper concluded that, for Nigeria to achieve seemly integration, our leaders must demonstrate obvious and sustainable capacity to de-emphasize ethno-religious cleavages in service to the nation. The study recommended, among other things, that leaders must stop trumping ethno-religious cards/biases, should sincerely and honestly see the entire country as one in the delivery of public goods and services, and the provision of public goods and services should be equitably distributed across the country in the general interest of Nigerians.
Keywords: Nation Building, National integration, Secession, cleavages., leadership failure, quota system