Roles of democratic political institutions in promoting leadership and nation building in Nigeria

Abstract

Leadership and nation-building are twin issues rocking the stability of the nation right from her birth. Agreeably, Nigeria is perennially bedeviled by bad leadership that has also gravely clogged the wheel of nation-building in its entirety. The lack of quality leadership in our democratic political institutions and poor commitment to nation-building is detrimental to the nation and does not augur well in any sense. This is evident in the political leadership crises, institutional conflicts within and outside government institutions, and the perversion and subversion of democratic political institutions to serve the interest of national elites or a particular ethnic group. It is possible that if the democratic political institutions are allowed and re-positioned to operate ideally, the problem of leadership and nation-building will be solved. This paper therefore attempts to bring to the fore the significant roles of democratic political institutions in promoting leadership and nation-building in Nigeria. It also dealt with goals of democratic political institutions, the democratic political role of the media, the democratic political role of the arms of government, the democratic political role of civil society organizations, the democratic political role of political parties, challenges of leadership and nation-building as well as its conclusion. Then suggested among others that a review should be done on the constitution that empowers the president to majorly choose those who will constitute his cabinet, as this should not be absolutely exercised. This is seen in the marginalization and exclusion of a particular section of the country as it is done in the present administration.