Political and Religious Leadership Factor in Africa’s Development Crisis

Abstract

Most African countries experienced political independence heralded with high optimism that the leaders will devise practical measures for harnessing abundant human and material resources in the continent for the good of the people and growth and development of the societies. Incidentally, several decades after political independence of many African countries, this optimism seems not to have been vindicated. The continent has been enmeshed in conflicts of varying magnitude, endemic economic and political corruption, weak state institutions, policy summersaults, ethno-religious loyalty, nepotism, illiteracy, poverty, unemployment, disease, poor healthcare services and low life expectancy. This paper interrogates the link between political cum religious leadership deficit and development question in Africa. It argues that the failure of Africa’s political and religious leaders to imbibe proactive visionary leadership to committedly engineer and vigorously pursue indigenous and pro-people development programmes has continued to stultify development aspirations on the continent. Appropriating the Marxian post-colonial state theory, the paper posits that the state of despondency in Africa is not unconnected with the leadership deficit in many of her states. It relies on documentary method of analysis which entails the analysis of documented information in textbooks, journals, periodicals and other internet sourced materials. The paper submits that purposeful leadership capable of leveraging indigenous and sustainable development essential to mitigating the comatose state of crisis of development in Africa. It recommends a radical shift from the existing anti-progressive leadership system to a more people-oriented and sustainable paradigm as well as a new sense of visionary leadership capable of lifting Africa from the prevailing developmental abyss.