Contending Issues in the Niger Delta Crisis of Nigeria - Journal of ...

Dr. Akpomuvire Mukoro
History, over a long span of time and space, helps
one to conclude that a decisive factor, in the
conduct of nation-states, multi-ethnic or not,
federally governed or not, is the human element:
particularly, at the level of leadership. Compared
with this primary factor, all other elements
associated with the instruments or system of
government assume secondary or complementary
role.
Scholars and public commentators in Nigeria share a common view
that the problem of Nigeria is that of leadership (Achebe: 1993,
Orewa: 1997, Ake; 1981, Adamolekun: 1983). Given the underdeveloped
nature of the Nigerian economy and the ruralness of most
Nigerian communities, the local governments are very often the first,
and in most cases, the only contact with the modern state apparatus.
Invariably, the local councils represent the only formal instrument for
the provision of social and developmental amenities. Unfortunately,
the pristine role that local government is expected to play has eluded
the people particularly those in the Niger-Delta. Added to the general
failure of our centralized system of government (Wunsch and Olowu
1995) and the crisis of governance, is the absence of dedicated,
effective and principled leadership. The project of establishing a
specifically western form of political domination has not succeeded in
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