Abstract:
Populism is one of the most prevalent but misunderstood political ideologies in use today. Understood as an appeal to “the people,” populism should not be dismissed as a pathological form of politics that is uninteresting to political theorists because its democratic pretensions raise significant issues. The chapter which aims to examine populism as a new political tactic in Nigeria was hinged on the critical theory and employed conceptual analysis in its discussion. The paper, however, contends that, in countries with a disjointed economy and significant social injustices like Nigeria, populism has electoral relevance because it serves as a foundation for conflicting claims of emancipation from the socioeconomic conditions that plague the populace. Unfortunately, the complex nature of populism makes it nigh-impossible for its adherents especially in nascent democracy like Nigeria to provide stable and good leadership style that could salvage “the people” from the shackle of mental slavery, economic hardship, insecurity, and other issues bothering on bad governance. Contrary to what is generally believed, the chapter reveals that populism appears to be closely linked to corruption, which is detrimental to sustainable development in addition to being ineffective, empty and serves the interest of the elite and serve only one transformational purpose—that of establishing a new government in Nigeria. The chapter, however, recommends a paradigm shift and transformational leadership style which revolves round intellectual stimulation, idealized influence, inspirational motivation, and individualized consideration in order to meet up with populist demands.
