LEADERSHIP QUESTION AND DEVELOPMENT CRISES THE 21 CENTURY.pdfVIP

Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa (Volume 15, No.2, 2013) ISSN: 1520-5509 Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Clarion, Pennsylvania LEADERSHIP QUESTION AND DEVELOPMENT CRISES: THE 21ST CENTURY CHALLENGES IN AFRICA AND QUEST FOR CHANGE Chris Ekene Mbah Center for Peace Studies, University of Tromsø, Norway ABSTRACT That Africa has been held hostage by a cabal-like leadership, juggled between the military and the civilians from late 1960s to date is an established fact. Post-independent African states have been retrogressive in the quest for sustainable growth, peace and development. Even though underdevelopment in Africa can also be attributed to the manner in which Africa was integrated into the world economy, this article posits that the more fundamental cause of African underdevelopment and conflicts lies in the vicious leadership in the continent from 1960s. It would focus on the comprador leadership style of African heads of states and government and assert that sustainable development and peace will remain an illusion if the continent refuses to look inwards and continue to be partners in Aids with the West and America, or can such scenario of equality emerge if the Centre-Periphery structures that have existed in the comity of nations persist. Keywords: Underdevelopment, Destructive leadership, corruption, conflict, peace and sustainability. 142 INTRODUCTION Right from the 1960s, African states has been confronted with conflict and developmental issues. Indeed, nothing has seemed more elusive than peace, stability and progress in the continent, particularly in Sub -Saharan African state