Making of an African Giant

About the Book

The performance of Nigeria has recently been vehemently criticized as not commensurate with her human and material potentialities. The hope that Nigeria is, by destiny, the African Giant appears to be fading. Some analysts, seeing this, have blamed it on the character defects of the leadership in Nigeria. They argue that because the leaders are “predatory and corrupt,” they have preoccupied themselves with their interests, which are “primitive accumulation and luxurious lifestyles.” Meanwhile, the rest of the citizens are suffering. This book argues that such character defects may indeed exist in some of Nigerian leaders. However, these are not the main reasons for their dismal performance regarding the welfare of the citizens. The main problem is that Nigerian leaders seem to have largely lost control over the state and its policies, which appear to have been captured by the dominant classes and groups—local and international. Nigeria’s main problem is, therefore, a structural one. Nonetheless, the book concludes—as the security, economic, political, and social crises intensify—Nigerian leaders, even if it is simply for self-preservation, will be forced by the objective conditions to move against the interests of these dominant classes and groups. It is only then that Nigeria can realistically be restored to the possibility of becoming an African Giant.

About the Author

Dr. Dan Mou is currently a Member of the Presidential Jobs Board, State House, The Presidency, Abuja, Nigeria. He holds a BSc Hons. Political Science (1979), University of Ibadan, Nigeria; MA (1982) and PhD (1986), University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA, specializing in Public Policy Analysis and African Politics; Ph.D. (Honoris Causa) in International Law and Diplomacy (2013), Pacific Western University, Colorado, U.S.A.; and another Ph.D. (Honoris Causa) in Business Administration (2013), Cornerstone University, Jerusalem, Israel. He lectured at the University of Jos, Nigeria, and the University of Wisconsin, Madison, U.S.A., before joining the Presidency in Nigeria in 1989, where his positions included: Director (Narcotics Drugs Control); Director (Special Duties); Director (Monitoring and Evaluation); and later appointed the Secretary, National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP). He also served as Director, Nigeria Air Force, and Director (Human Resources), Ministry of Defence, as well as Director (Human Resources, Inspectorate and Management Services), Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Dr. Mou further served as Special Adviser (National Security Affairs) to the National Security Advisers in the Presidency, under three consecutive Nigerian Governments. He has published extensively in scholarly journals and books. His bestsellers are National Security and Democratic Governance in Nigeria; State Power, Agrarian Policies and Peasant Welfare and National Security; Good Governance and Democracy in Africa. His happy marriage to Mimidoo Osewe Mou is blessed with children. E-mail: danmou2001@yahoo.com.