Arts & Humanities Journal|IJAH

Title: LEADERSHIP AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN NIGERIA'S FOURTH REPUBLIC: A CRITICAL INTROSPECTION
Authors: Abiodun Ajayi, PhD; Raheem Oluwafunminiyi
Volume:3 Issue: 11
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1Abiodun Ajayi, PhD; 2Raheem Oluwafunminiyi 1. Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo 2. University of Ilorin
MLA 8 Ajayi, Abiodun, and Raheem Oluwafunminiyi. "LEADERSHIP AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN NIGERIA'S FOURTH REPUBLIC: A CRITICAL INTROSPECTION." Int. J. Arts&Humanities, vol. 3, no. 11, Nov. 2019, pp. 409-424, journal-ijah.org/more2019.php?id=31. Accessed Nov. 2019. APA Ajayi, A., & Oluwafunminiyi, R. (2019, November). LEADERSHIP AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN NIGERIA'S FOURTH REPUBLIC: A CRITICAL INTROSPECTION. Int. J. Arts&Humanities, 3(11), 409-424. Retrieved from journal-ijah.org/more2019.php?id=31 Chicago Ajayi, Abiodun, and Raheem Oluwafunminiyi. "LEADERSHIP AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN NIGERIA'S FOURTH REPUBLIC: A CRITICAL INTROSPECTION." Int. J. Arts&Humanities 3, no. 11 (November 2019), 409-424. Accessed November, 2019. journal-ijah.org/more2019.php?id=31.
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Keywords: Leadership, Nigeria, Fourth Republic, Accountability, Citizens
Abstract: Although Nigeria has witnessed six political transitions between 1999 and 2019, the outcomes have often returned acrimoniously. Nigeria's Fourth Republic has witnessed some of the most intriguing challenges in the country's political history. In spite of her enviable democratic credentials, compared to other states on the continent, Nigeria continues to grapple with two critical challenges - leadership and accountability - which have stunted its development and progress. Chinua Achebe's description of Nigeria's problem as squarely a failure of leadership illustrates the inherent rot that has inhibited the country's aspirations for greatness. And given the derelict nature of the leadership in all facet of Nigerian life, there is bound to be a deficit in effective accountability. This is best explained, for instance, in the recent vexed issue of false Assets Declaration by familiar political figures in the country. Apart from the fact that the leadership at all levels of government find it very difficult to declare their assets when requested to do so by law, they also mount a brick wall against those who seek to verify the documents via the Freedom of Information Act. The unwillingness to be accountable creates suspicion and increases mistrust among the citizenry towards the leadership. Thus, Nigerian leadership falls short of a good example expected of it. With reference to specific instances, this paper takes a critical introspection into the twins problems of leadership and accountability in Nigeria's Fourth Republic (1999-2019). It argues that for any meaningful reform to expressly manifest in the country, the leadership must first, lead by personal example, and secondly, commit itself on being accountable to the citizens at all time.
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