LEADERSHIP VALUES AND YOUTH CRISES IN NIGERIA: A STUDY OF EMEKA NWABUEZE’S ECHOES OF MADNESS AND A PARLIAMENT OF VULTURES

Abstract

The popular statement that youths are the power house of every nation is becoming delusional in the present day Nigeria; not with the recent inconsistencies in behavioural displays being recorded among the youths. Indeed, there is a close link between the values a society is known for and the values manifested by its leaders. Public perception of government in Nigeria is that of a nation that has been grossly affected by bribery, corruption, scandals, and wrong impression for wealth acquisition. In a situation like this, cynicism and wariness tend to replace confidence and trust. Everyone is affected by this trend especially the youths who usually learn by observation. As such, they are left with little or no option than to follow the footsteps of their leaders. The current relegation of governance to private business by some Nigerian leaders precipitates the need for this study. The paper is anchored on the social learning theory of Albert Bandura which suggests that behaviour is influenced by observations of models within the environment. The study, which is qualitative in nature, explores the effects of leadership values on the behavioural crisis of Nigerian youths as portrayed in Emeka Nwabueze’s Echoes of Madness and A Parliament of Vultures. The paper observes that activities of the ruling class are not impacting positively on Nigerian youths and recommends that cubing the youth crisis in Nigerian will yield better fruits when leaders and those in authority model positive values in their day to day activities.