Change mantra and leadership model: schoolings from Emmy Idegu’s <i>Another Odolu kingdom</i>

Abstract

African’s contact with the West and the imposition of its socio-political and economic administrative models to a very large extent has dealt a devastating blow on the way Africa now governs its people. Nigeria, as it is known today, before its amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates with the Lagos colony existed under the socio- political structures of emirates, caliphates, kingdoms etc., each having its peculiar constitutional model which engendered good neighbourliness, equity, justice among others. With the new order in place, Nigeria over the years has evolved several governmental replicas after the British and Americans. This seems not to have addressed the threat to our national co-existence, (perhaps because of our diverse cultural, religious and social frame of references). Many Nigerian leaders (both military and civilian) have tried to remain in power continually against the mandate of the masses. This has brought on its people litany of woes. It is against this grounding, which this paper is poking at Idegu’s Another Odolu Kingdom with the view to upholding attitudinal leadership change among office holders in this era of change mantra. Therefore, the researcher among others recommends that African playwrights should continue to imbibe the creative literary stewardship of Idegu in a bid to move Africa from its present quicksand.