Effects of Leadership and Political Corruption on Achieving Sustainable Development: Evidence from Nigeria

Abstract

The Federal Republic of Nigeria, one of the countries in sub-Sahara Africa is richly endowed with natural resources and high quality human capital, but still struggling with the issue of sustainable development. One factor responsible for that ugly trend is attributed to the phenomenon of corruption. The study "Leadership and political corruption on achieving sustainable development in Nigeria" is aimed at identifying as well as espousing the factors hindering leaders from achieving sustainable development. This study examines what is most important to average Nigerian leaders and the value system obtainable in the country. The study also investigated the pre and post assessment of Nigerian leaders in relation to the obtainable value system. The study employed descriptive and content analytical method in its analysis, where data collected on issue were descriptively analyzed. The study utilized Karl Mark dialectical materialism theory as its theoretical framework. Therefore, the study revealed that an average Nigerian leader is mired in the pursuit of selfish and personal goals than integrity which is the hallmark of achieving sustainable development. And that the available value system is significantly linked to the problem of inefficient management of human and material resources in the country. It is therefore, the position of the paper that the issue of achieving sustainable development in Nigeria remains a mirage with dare consequences on the economy, the citizenry and on our collective image globally,   until our leaders develop the spirit of patriotism in their dealing with masses and ensure total rehabilitations of all the various subsystem in Nigeria. The paper therefore concluded that without efficient and pragmatic public leadership, there will be nothing like sustainable development.

Keywords: Leadership, Political leadership, Political Corruption, Sustainable Development, Dialectical Materialism, Administration.