Abstract

The problem of underdevelopment, high level of poverty, inequality in resource sharing, and wealth control and in the socio-political composition of the Nigerian state, creates tension, instability, insecurity and countless agitation for restructuring, fairness, justice and equity, and very recently, Biafra agitation. This has dominated the discourse in the Nigerian polity today, prompted for increased participation, involvement and inclusion of every ethnic Nationalities in the Nigerian society for equal sharing, participation and allocation of the Nation’s National wealth and resources. Hence, the subsequent leadership failure by the various levels of government in addressing and tackling these challenges has prompted this study. Hence, the papers examine Biafra agitation in the light of leadership failure within context of the Nigerian polity. From the highlighted narrative above, and also conceptualizing Biafra Agitation and leadership failure in Nigeria generally. The methodology adopted in the paper was qualitative and content analysis, which was also used to examine various texts from secondary sources such as textbooks, internet materials, newspapers and magazines, journals, articles, etc. Group theory was also adopted as the theoretical framework to examine key variable in the study. The paper concludes that a re-structuring of the political structure of the Nigerian state, for fairness, justice and equity may address some of the challenges confronting the nation today. Again this will further reduce the tensions and agitations coming from the different ethnic nationalities as a result of a feeling of marginalization and economic and political exclusion from the scheme of things in Nigerian state. The paper recommends good governance and national development across the length and breadth of Nigerian state, remains a veritable tool for social, economic, and political inclusion, and will engender national unity and political, social, and economic inclusion and development in the nation.

Keywords: Biafra agitation; Leadership failure; Tribal programs