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