Leadership and Poverty Reduction in Nigeria

Leadership in all facets and in every strata, supposed not to exhibit odium of unpopular policies that tantamount to the creation of massive numbers of disgruntled followers. Leadership by example, to the followers, is like a reflection from a wall mirror. The wall mirror will always reflect the reality of what obtains. What manner of leadership given to the masses or followers is what reflect on their attitude or response to the leaders within a given leadership space. Every leader that aspires to remain relevant, popular and acceptable within his or her leadership space, is always abreast with the psychology of his followers, and will thus consider the welfare of his followers as Paramount. In view of that, Good leader is one who is able to conquer and acquire the territory of his followers’ loyalty. A good leader can only be sustained in power by the loyalty of his followers. Leaders enjoy unflinching loyalty too from the followers when the followers feel secured, and have their basic needs met. In that regard, friendly policies like the creation of job opportunities, provision of efficient security, efficient health care services, well-funded educational system, provision of good drinking water, regular power supply and some other basic amenities, are some of the basic contemporary needs of the people of which when provided could sustain cordial leadership and follower’s relationship more so in a developing Country like Nigeria. In effect, this article has taken a critical survey on the challenges facing leadership in Nigeria, more so, since independence. The research has also taken perescopial studies on the activities of the ‘usurper leaders’ and ‘arrangee followers’, an emerging political concept that has marred political development in Nigeria. This is in an attempt to unravel the consequences of that on Nigerian Socio-Economic and Political development. By considering where the Nation is coming from, where it has gotten now and what the future portends, the research has exposed the danger of leadership imposition in Nigerian politics, and what it portend to Nation building and poverty eradication as well. Having considered various variables too, the research has made some useful prescriptions on the need to evolve a political culture that will create a lasting and sustainable good leadership, supported with good followers in Nigeria. This, it is believed, is achievable by sustaining moral levity interwoven in Political culture of the people, as such will minimize corruption and enhance Socio- Economic and Political integration in a plural society.