Politics and Politicians in Nigeria: Establishing the Nexus Between the Actors, Their Actions, and Nation Building
Politics and Politicians in Nigeria: Establishing the Nexus Between the Actors, Their Actions, and Nation Building

Summary/Abstract: Scholars have argued that there exists a sort of relationship between politics, politicians and nation building. This is based on the fact that the concept of politics refers to a process by which people (“professional politicians” on the one hand and the people on the other) debate matters concerning the ‘polis’ – that is the political community – and take actions in an attempt to realize the public interest or the common good. The public interest remains the major yardstick for measuring nation building. In this way, politics is associated with activities/processes of governance by political actors, aimed at putting in place institutions, structures, and infrastructures targeted towards public interest and nation building. In the case of post-colonial Nigeria (as in most African countries), the reverse seems to be the case. This paper therefore examines the reality of politics, politicians, and the nation building nexus in a Nigerian context. Data obtained from primary and secondary sources were utilized to carry out the study by applying an analytical and narrative historical method. Findings indicate that where the actors (politicians) are concerned, Nigerian politics have gradually become a theatre for the pursuit of selfish ends, a place of bitter struggle for who gets what for one’s self, family and friends, while their statements lack the necessary ingredients for nation building. It also uncovers the fact that these acts and other actions of politicians have substantially hampered the socio-economic development and the process of nation building at large. It therefore concludes that unless more drastic measures are taken, the country may find itself in an even more severe danger.

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