On the bright side, Nigeria can turn a new leaf by making positive and effective turnaround in leadership. Having a good leader that ushers reform in all sectors of the country is the greatest desire of all citizens alike.
Since her independence in 1960, Nigeria has encountered various forms of government with their unique leadership. Nigeria, africa’s most populous state has gone through a lot in the past 58 years ranging from military regimes to democratic leadership. On October 1963, Nigeria became a republic. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was nigerias first premier while Nnamdi Azikiwe was Nigeria’s first president. In this era, the regional structures flourished, bringing out workable policy goals and effective competition among regions. The Northern region, the West and Eastern region were led by Ahmadu Bello, Obafemi Awolowo and Nnamdi Azikiwe respectively.
However, fierce competition among regions inflamed the strong desire for power grab at the central government. Additionally, intra-party wrangling in the Western region turned out to be calamitous between Samuel Akintola and Obafemi Awolowo. Nigeria had inherited a weak socio-political structure and intensified ethnic consciousness and rivalries, as well as inexperienced leadership. Infighting in the Action group party of the west known as Action Group crisis of 1962/1963, western region election crisis of 1965, population census crisis, Tiv riots and a string of other problems paved way for military intervention on January 15th, 1966. A counter coup ensued on 29th July,1966 which precipitated in ethnic massacres of easterners and civil war. Yakubu Gowon assumed leadership under military rule in 1966. Since then, Nigeria witnessed series of coups and overthrow of democratic regime from 1975-79 under Murtala Mohammed/Olusegun Obasanjo, 1983-85 under General Muhammad Buhari, 1985-93 under General Ibrahim Babangida, 1993-98 under General Sani Abacha as well as 1999 under General Abdulsalami Abubakar. Over these past decades, changes occurred in leadership through forceful takeover of power by military juntas. The democratic government mthat came to be in 1979 under Shehu Shagari era was toppled by military in 1983. A last ditch effort to return to democracy was bungled up when General Babangida annulled the general elections that held in 12th June, 1993 that was widely seen as a free and fair election and won by M.K.O.Abiola.
These sudden changes of leadership led to ups and down in the stability of our political structure. However, Nigeria was able to turn a new leaf once again when General Abdulsalami begun a transition process towards returning Nigeria to a democratic path in 1999. Democracy was restored and Nigeria was able to hold free and fair elections once again. Olusegun Obasanjo became President following the outcome of the general elections in 1999. Thereafter, he was succeeded by President Umaru Yar’adua. Following his untimely demise, Goodluck Jonathan, the Vice President under late Yar’adua era assumed interim president by Doctrine of Necessity. He went on and proceeded to victory following the 2011 general elections. However, he was succeeded by President Muhammed Buhari.
Having gone through all these sequence of leadership, Nigerians have grown more deserving for good governance and effective administration. The clamor for reforms, good leadership and socio-economic development has been limitless and can be heard across nooks and crannies of the country. In all these previous eras, Nigeria has observed the good, the bad and ugly. Past regimes have been festered by corruption, maladministration, inept leadership, misrule, arbitrary policies, subjugation of democratic institutions, highhandedness, gross abuse of power, cronyism and sundry. Indeed, it is no wonder that the late noble laureate Chinua Achebe, in his book “The Trouble with Nigeria,” attributed to poor leadership as Nigeria’s core problem.
On the bright side, Nigeria can turn a new leaf by making positive and effective turnaround in leadership. Having a good leader that ushers reform in all sectors of the country is the greatest desire of all citizens alike. We must not leave the populace broken or in a state of despair. In order to rid the country of corruption, injustices, communal clashes, political upheaval, self-aggrandizement, moral decay, economic hardship, and social decadence, a strong, capable and committed leader must confront these challenges and usher in a new era of prosperity and change.
Obinna Chukwuemeka .P. Can be reached at [email protected]