The Imperative of Deliberative Democracy in the Leadership Recruitment Process in Nigeria

Abstract

This paper attempts an exposition of the leadership recruitment challenge in Nigerian democratic practise as a result of the liberal brand of democracy. The paper examines the extent to which leadership has, over the years, adversely affected the development of Nigeria as a nation. It further argues that majoritarian democratic models as means of leadership recruitment in most situations have presented failed leaders who have in turn failed to provide desired answers to perennial challenges confronting Nigeria, hence the need for a paradigm shift. The paper suggests the Habermasian model of deliberative democracy as an alternative to the majoritarian democratic approach for leadership recruitment in Nigerian democratic practise. In the final analysis, the paper concludes that for true leadership to be institutionalised in the tradition as put forward in Habermas’ thought in this age, the place of deliberative democracy must be realised and elevated.