Changing Cultural Values and Politica Development in Nigeria

Abstract

The assumption of this study is that the changing cultural values is the arrow head of the political development in any country. This is squeal to the fact that the complexity of beliefs and values which are prevalent in a society forms the basis for rationalizing the people’s actions and are termed ideology. Ideology is an important mechanism for the sustenance of society as it has the capacity to induce political development hence a society without ideology risks disintegration. It is on this premise that this paper feels that Nigeria should take stock of its achievement and failures, 52 years after independence and then determine what we need to do in the years ahead to realize the dreams of the founding fathers. Against this background the study examined such areas as cultural values, political development in the country. Based on this we found out that there is an interface between the values of the people and the leadership in the country and this is actually occasioned by mass poverty in Nigeria. We therefore recommend that provision of employment opportunity, income redistribution and to de-emphasized materialism will be necessary in ensuring not just democratic but an egalitarian society.