Grand challenge of insecurity and Leadership: Humanizing Leadership to enhance security in divided Nigeria nation state.

Abstract

The past few years has become synonymous with grand challenge of insecurity in Nigeria, impacting negatively on individuals’ emotion, the national economy, social collectivity, peace and security. Having been impacted by the militant agitation on her oil resource exploration in the Niger Delta region; the emerged and occurrence of attacks by the Boko Haram insurgents, herders’ farmers conflicts, bandit attacks, secessionist crusade and hardship economic protests have made threat her national security. While government have adopted different policies to address the incessant conflicts, much of these are found to be counterproductive. The arrest and re-arrest of secessionists leaders like; Kanu, IPOB leader, and Ighoho who champions demand for Yoruba nation are reference in points. This paper carries out exploratory survey of the occurrence of insecurity as differently experienced in Nigeria from northeast, northwest, southeast and southwest. The article argues that, insensitivity to public opinions, high level of public distrust and bad leadership has brought Nigerians to the point of no return. It suggests that for Nigerians to build confidence on their leaders and institutions; Nigerian leaders must take to their responsibilities, seek more for inclusive social policies, and stand out for equity. Since humanizing approach emphasizes the relational and co-constitutive aspects of leadership; solving grand challenge of insecurity in Nigeria, requires a sense of leadership responsibility, coordinated efforts, pragmatic collaborations with the stakeholders while commune with their environment.