LEADERSHIP, CORRUPTION AND NATION BUILDING IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The paper tried to check the link between leadership, corruption and nation building. The paper addressed how the leadership style and the corrupt practices in Nigeria have led to a poor socio-economic development and the nation building in Nigeria. The paper relied on documentary method for its data gathering and qualitative descriptive analysis for its data analysis. The paper used the idealist theory of the state for its theoretical framework. The study recommended the following : the citizens should play their own role in seeing that they perform their civic duties efficiently by electing those that are credible not out of religious or ethnic affiliations, the leader must be a patriotic one, willing to deliver, self denial, there should be a strong anti graft law which must be independent from either the judiciary, executive and the legislature, any administration that must lead must come in through a credible free and fair elections, a reform should be created and targeted towards stimulating economic growth, reduce unemployment, reduce poverty, improve government accountability and transparency, re-orienting values and rebuilding national integrity.