ARTICLE SUMMARY
| Title: | The Politics of Development and Underdevelopment by the Elite in Nigeria |
| Author(s): | Elechi Felix Aja, Ohazurike Kennedy & Nwankwo Oliver Uchenna |
| Abstract: | Fifty years after independence, development issues are still being given lip service in Nigeria in this era of globalization where every state is being dragged along by the forces of international capital, Nigeria's leaders or elite are still viewing or participation in politics from across ethnic and religious lines thereby relegating the economy and other developmental issues to the background. This paper examined how the elite conspiracy beginning with the struggle for independence, through the era of military interregnum to the fourth republic has impacted negatively on the economy and other developmental issues, thereby engendering the underdevelopment of the polity. Anchoring our discourse on the elite theory, the paper argue that as long as politics in Nigeria is seen from across ethnic and religious lines, the economy and other developmental issues in Nigeria would be continuously relegated to the background thereby encouraging underdevelopment and its effects which are characterised with rising level of poverty, unemployment, insecurity, poor or lack of social and physical infrastructures and a corrupt and inept leadership that has no policy direction. The paper also recommended amongst others that the elite in Nigeria have to eschew ethnic politics hidden in religious garments and rather embrace politics of national integration and development. |
| Keywords: | Development, Underdevelopment, Elite Conspiracy, Ethnic Politics, Leadership Failure |
Editorial Board
EDITOR-IN CHIEF
Prof. Jonathan E. Aliede
DEPUTY EDITOR-IN CHIEF
Agatha Obiageri Orji-Egwu, Ph.D
MANAGING EDITOR
SÃmon Ugochukwu Nwankwo, Ph.D
EDITORS
Prof. Ifeyinwa Nsude
Prof. Angela Nwanmuo
Prof. Tyotom Keghku
Prof. Muyiwa Poopola
Prof. Nnanyelugo Okoro
Prof L. I. Ogbuoshi
Ruth. Chika Okorie, Ph.D
Adeola Sidikat Oyrleke, Ph.D
Celestine Ukeoma, Ph.D