STATECRAFT UNDER PRESSURE: GOVERNANCE AND POLITICAL UPHEAVAL IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Politics, as both an art and a science, revolves around the exercise of power, decision-making, and the distribution of resources within a state. Closely aligned with this is the concept of statecraft—defined as the strategic management of a nation's affairs by government officials and public administrators. This paper explores the relationship between governance, political turbulence, and the practice of statecraft in Nigeria. It discusses how statecraft functions across various sectors—economic, diplomatic, military, social, and educational—and emphasizes the roles played by individuals, often regarded as statesmen, in managing these complex systems. The study acknowledges that the effectiveness of governance in any society is strongly influenced by the stability of its political environment and the competence of those in leadership. Nigeria, as a case study, presents a unique context marked by recurring political turbulence that challenges the exercise of effective statecraft. By analyzing Nigeria’s political dynamics, this paper contributes to a deeper understanding of how governance is shaped, disrupted, and potentially reformed through the skillful application of statecraft