Leadership and Ethno-Religious Crises: Implications for National Integration in Nigeria

Abstract

In recent times, no issue has generated widespread public comment in Nigeria more than the issues of leadership and ethno-religious threats rocking the country and its bitter consequences on national integration. To achieve this feat, the paper examines the concepts of leadership, ethno-religious crisis and national integration I Nigeria making use of library research and content analysis approach common to all historians. Besides, the paper establishes when national integration became an issue in Nigeria, some integrative instruments adopted so far by the Nigerian state, expected qualities of a leader and an overview of leadership in Nigeria. It reveals some ethno-religious crisis the nation-state had experienced and a link between leadership and ethno-religious crisis and its implication on the nations are quest toward nationhood. Besides leadership challenges and disintegrative crises also examined. The paper submits that, Nigeria has failed to realize its manifest destiny with her crop of leaders since 1960 because they lack in-depth understanding of the Nigerian project the felt needs and voiced concerns of the people and will to integrate the Nigerian nations divided among divergent but similar lines. The paper concludes by making some recommendations because national integration is imperative, desirable but possible with visionary leadership.

Keywords: Leadership, Ethno-religious Crisis, National Integration, Political Will, Challenges