DOI: https://doi org/10.32523/2616-6895-2021-134-1-206-214 Received: 15.03.21 / Accepted: 20.03.21
Introduction. Upon gaining independence after decades
of colonial dominion, the young African states
soon confronted head-on the realities of running
societies with complex political, economic, and
socio-cultural as well as administrative systems,
for which they were ill-prepared. Nigeria has
been struggling with the task of nation-building
since its independence in 1960. The new country
was inherited by inexperienced leaders who
lacked national consciousness and constituency
and were more tuned to the subverted indigenous
ethos of government and culture. By 1960 most
of those who took over the reins of power from
Britain had a very short experience in democratic
governance while those in the North had only a
modicum of western education.
The young Nigerian state continues to face
to date the challenges of searching for the