As the centenary cel
ebration of Nigeria’s amalgamation began and ended recently, the singular question that has remained unanswered and has continuously starred the nation in the face is the leadership question.
No other question has generated so much resentment than the issue of leadership. For 100 years, more than half of it spent as an independent nation, the leadership failure as been a recurring decimal, a sore thumb that has continued to ache the self-acclaimed giant of Africa.
Indeed, Nigeria’s leadership challenge began with its amalgamation supervised by Lord Fredrick Lugard, the then Governor – General of Nigeria. Before the creation of the union, Nigeria, in its potential form, existed as the Northern and Southern Protectorates. The union brought peoples of diversified cultures, ethnicity, tribes and religions together.
Lugard was an experienced soldier who had conquered many territories for the British Empire in the days of expansionism by the few strong nation-states at the period. As governor-general, he made sure Nigeria became an economic success for his country.
He introduced various tax collection methods and permitted slavery in the north, especially among the elite families. He was considered an absentee-leader whose period of leadership witnessed severe socio-economic exploitation and discrimination against Nigerians by the white colonialists.
His draconian and discriminatory rule advanced the violation of the fundamental rights of Nigerians including their economic and socio-political rights. This resulted in a sustained agitation for independence and democratic rule by the few educated Nigerians for 46 years.
The period between 1914 and 1960 witnessed the introduction of several colonial leaders and their local counterparts with varied leadership styles that led to the creation of many constitutions which altered Nigeria politically and administratively.
Upon attaining independence in 1960, the fleeing colonial masters bequeathed the type of Westminster parliamentary democracy that made remarkable achievements between 1960 and 1966 when the military intervened. However, the First Republic, with its parliamentary system, was wrecked because of ethnic and political intolerance by politicians, total disregard for the rule of law, corruption, abuse of office and mismanagement of human and material resources.
Apparently influenced by their British counterparts, the new crop of Nigerian leaders particularly at the centre, became the newly-inherited oppressors of the common Nigerians, riding roughshod on their rights and privileges.
Then came the military coup. The military intervened without much understanding of the system. They imposed a unitary government with Major-General John Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi as the leader. His tenure was characterized by draconian and undemocratic tendencies. Civilian participation in his regime was minimal and at fringe levels.
Aguiyi-Ironsi’s rule was toppled while he was killed on January 15, 1966 by a group of young militancy officers who struck in revenge of an earlier coup executed by Major Kaduna Nzeogwu and some of his fellow Igbo officers, which claimed the lives of the then prime minister and the premier of the northern region.
The bloodletting resulted in a three-year civil war under the leadership of General Yakubu Gowon. On July 29th, 1975, Gowon was overthrown and replaced with General Murtala Muhammed while General Olusegun Obasanjo was his deputy. Murtala’s leadership was a pragmatic one. He fought corruption in the civil service and the society as well.
But on February 13, 1976, he was assassinated. Obasanjo succeeded him and handed over to the Second Republic President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari on October 1, 1979. Shagari’s administration was inept and corrupt. His government was replaced by General Muhammed Buhari on December 31, 1983 in a coup.
Buhari’s administration fought corruption fiercely and instilled discipline in Nigerians. The regime was particularly known for the famous War Against Indiscipline, WAI, slogan. Nevertheless, a palace coup shoved aside the 18-month old regime and paved the way for General Ibrahim Babangida as Head of State on August 27, 1985. Babangida headed an excessively corrupt regime.
Generals Sani Abacha, and Abdulsalami Abubakar, all of them headed very corrupt regimes that were also known for notoriety and impunity. Obasanjo returned as civilian president in 1999. He fought corruption and misrule unsuccessfully. His successor, late Umaru Yar-Adua was elected in controversial circumstances. He launched the ‘Servant Leader’ concept, an indication that he wanted to lead as a servant of all Nigerians.
The incumbent, President Goodluck Jonathan, is yet to find his feet almost six years of assuming power.  His regime is overwhelmed by corruption and insecurity.
Unfortunately, the leaders the nation has had from independence have been unable to take Nigeria to the ‘promised land.’ They get it wrong because they propagate ethnic politics and religious bigotry in an attempt to attain power. They are equally corrupt, inept and selfish.
It was late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, one of the pillars of the nation’s politics, who admonished that if those in authority united in probity, unselfishness and self-sacrifice, the people would follow all too easily in their footsteps.
Until our leaders heed the advice by the late sage the leadership question will remain a challenge.

Arnold Alalibo