Ilorin — Professor of Diplomatic History, Akinjide Osuntokun has said the only way to achieve good governance in African countries including Nigeria was for the institutionalizing of incorruptible leaders and rule of law.

This, he said would go along way in bringing stable democracy and even development to the socio economic advancement of the African countries.

Akinjide who is also a member of the Nation Newspapers Board of Directors made this submission in Ilorin recently at a lecture delivered to mark the official commissioning of ultra modern Africa Hall constructed by Mustapha Akanbi Foundation and owned by the former Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Commission, Justice Mustapha Akanbi.

In a paper entitled "Democratic Governance and Political Leadership in African Countries: Prospects and Challenges," Prof. Osuntokun noted that the leadership of the country had been hijacked by a cabal that does not have the interest of the vast majority of Nigerians at heart.

He said, the development had continued to have effect on the socio economic growth of the nation.

Osuntokun predicted that revolution was imminent in Nigeria and that it would consume all, if the present leadership did not change from its selfish way before it was too late.

He pointed out that , the dearth of quality leadership in Nigeria portends a serious danger not only for the country but the entire African continent. He, advised the leaders not to allow the present precarious situation lead to a bland revolution that would consume all. According to him, "my prayer is that the country does not crash because if it does the entire West Africa nay Africa will be in problem" "As things are now we are getting to a desperate situation in which the people will revolt. Unless leaders respond swiftly otherwise we might reach a point of irreversibility," he stressed

Continuing "Africa needs to go beyond personalities to the rule of law and to functional institutions. Once these are in place then it would not matter if we have bad leaders in the future because these leaders would be constrained and restrained by the established institutions and if they go out of order the institutions will be strong enough to deal with such erring leaders.

He added, "But the ideal we must all aim at is a regime of rules and laws not a regime of Africa's 'big men' whose rule have brought disaster, corruption and distemper to most African countries."

The chairman of the occasion, Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger state stated that there should be a symbiotic relationship between the electorate and the leaders, saying the electorate should know what they want from people elected into positions of authority.

He therefore said that , it was high time that Nigerians drafted people imbued with good leadership skills to pilot their affairs saying that, "With this I'm saying leadership that is honest, transparent, accountable and takes cognizance of the electorate. A leadership that will deliver the dividends of democracy in an humane manner to the people, otherwise disillusionment will set in,"