AN INVESTIGATION ON THE ILLUSIONARY OF NIGERIA DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP AND THE WAY FORWARD

Abstract

It is a fact well acknowledged that Nigeria as a democratic nation assumes the practice of democracy in her administrative and political system. This democracy so practiced has been raising question from well spirited individuals on whether it really captures the intention of the ancient Greek and Roman intellectuals that founded it during the 17 th century. These questions have been based on the premise that Nigeria government has always negated the real practice of democracy in her political, legal and administrative system. Hence Nigeria democracy is seen as tainted by all the obnoxious attributes of mindless military dictatorship that has crippled the Nation’s economy and dehumanized the people through its anti- people policies, leaving behind its trail a visible caricature of our lofty hope and aspirations, with its definition as a government of people without conscience, by people without conscience and for the people without conscience. In this work, an examination of Nigeria democratic leadership will be done using a sociological method with a theoretical framework of symbolic interactionism theory. The paper finds that there has been a rape in democracy as it is practiced in Nigeria today. It also observes that the ruling class has fashioned democracy in a way to suit their personal wills. It finally observes that there is a clear difference between what democracy is and what is obtained in present Nigeria. The paper therefore recommends that Nigeria leaders should revisit the nature of her democracy which will give way to an egalitarian society. It also recommends the bringing in of people that are willing to give room for democracy in the administration of Nigeria as a way of maintaining a democratic system