POLITICAL ELITES AND THE CHALLENGES OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT: THE NIGERIA EXPERIENCE

Abstract

Political elites and the challenges of national development: the Nigeria experience explains the country’s development challenges in relations to problems associated with elite’s ethnification of political process that undoubtedly affects public policy formation and implementations in Nigeria. In this case we have the syndrome of “we want our man in national politics.†This practice negates meritocracy and sound developmental policy. Under this condition, national development is unattainable. To achieve national development, the government should actively encourage national integration and eschew discrimination on the ground of place of birth, tribe, religion, sex, language and political party affiliation.