This paper conceptions of corruption and the legislative measures to fight it, which have not been productive in South Africa. Although the South African government made significant strides in promulgating pieces of legislations and institutions that could help in curbing corruption in the public service, corruption continues to be rife. This has adversely affected the rights of the citizenry by depriving them of adequate access to basic services. This paper accepts that corruption cannot be completely eradicated, but it proposes that punitive measures be imposed on perpetrators. However, a societal mind-shift is necessary if corruption were to become history in South Africa.
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© 2014, South African Association of Public Administration and Management, P.O. Box 14257, Hatfield, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa
LEADERSHIP, CORRUPTION AND UNDERDEVELEOPMENT IN AFRICA: NIGERIA IN FOCUS K.D. Adejuwon Lagos State University, OJO, Nigeria Abstract
Nigeria is unquestionably one of the most fertile countries in Africa and the richest in terms of natural resources; however, its image has been incrementally damaged by corruption and inept leadership. This paper is anchored on the character of the Nigerian state, mainly its
“prebendal” and “patrimonial” tendencies that allow for leadership to accumulate public wealth.
It examines corruption as one of the leadership problems in Nigeria and its attendant consequences on development. The paper assesses the level of corruption in various civil and military regimes, starting from 1960 to date. Also, it adopts historical methodology in examining leadership, corruption and the challenges of underdevelopment in Nigeria. It recommends, among others things, that a culture of honesty, patriotism and sincerity be inculcated in society in order to effect change in public functionaries’ attitude towards management of national wealth.
The paper concludes that corruption and inept leadership are responsible for the state of underdevelopment in Nigeria.
Keywords: Leadership; Patrimonial State; Corruption; Development; Nigeria
1. Introduction
Africa’s poor state of political leadership is more profound. The unfortunate situation of Africa was aptly captured by Rotberg (2004) that “Africa has long been saddled with poor, even malevolent leadership, predatory kleptocrats, military-installed autocrats, economic illiterates and puffed-up posturers. By far, the most egregious examples come from Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe – countries that have been run into the ground despite their abundant natural resources (cited in Popoola, 2011). Under the stewardship of these leaders, infrastructure in many African countries have fallen into despair, currencies have depreciated, and real prices have inflated dramatically, while job availability, healthcare, education standards and life expectancy have declined. Ordinary life has become beleaguered, general security has deteriorated, crime and corruption have increased, much-needed public funds have flowed into hidden bank accounts (local and foreign), and officially sanctioned ethnic discrimination become prevalent. After decades of independence, Africa is still home to majority of the world’s poor irrespective of the enormous potentials of economic growth in its arsenal call for more than just tears (Igwe, 2010). The reality of the matter is that the major culprits of Africa’s destruction today are Africans themselves, that is, Africa’s leadership. Though Africa is unarguably one of the most fertile region of the world and the richest continent on earth in terms of natural resources. But today, the image of Africa has been damaged by corruption. This malady has tragically devastated African societies and made millions of people destitute. From South Africa to Egypt, Ghana to Mali, Niger to Gabon, Kenya to Nigeria, the tentacles of corruption reaches everywhere.
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© 2014, South African Association of Public Administration and Management, P.O. Box 14257, Hatfield, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa
From the offices of Presidents and Prime Ministers to the smallest administration unit of government, corruption is everywhere.
The above descriptions fit into the description of Nigeria. A country where we live on hopes, potentials, aspirations and dreams. Today, Nigeria is a paradox, a rich nation with a large segment of the population living in poverty and misery. It is an axiom that Nigeria is richly endowed by providence with human and material resources critical for national development and advancement (Dike, 2011: 30). Nigerian leaders since independence have so impoverished the country that her social and economic institutions have virtually collapsed. They embezzle public funds with impunity due to weak or the absence of effective institutional checks and balances. They get involved in grand corruption and acquire wealth through questionable means which they use to bribe their ways to remain in power. They are fraudulent and opportunists who are so selfish to the detriment of overall national interest (Anazodo, Agbionu & Ezenwile (2011). It is instructive to note that of all the problems that undermined our national development, corruption arising from bad leadership is the greatest impediment that stifles development, produces poverty and reinforces inequality in Nigeria (Smith, 2007: 55). The main question which this paper set out to address is why Nigeria suffers from underdevelopment despite its reasonably sufficient oil wealth. Whilst the poor state of Nigeria’s development has prompted this study, it is the intricate interface between leadership, corruption and underdevelopment that informs and underpins the analysis and arguments. The paper therefore offers a politico- administrative explanation to this paradox of underdevelopment amidst of abundant resources.