ABSTRACT
The chapter will show that the priority argument which places economic development over political development is no longer valid in the contemporary African states because all the factors that are supposed to lead to the path of economic development have been vitiated by corruption in low and high places. Corruption is exemplified in various ways like nepotism, embezzlement, mediocrity, and leadership deficit. The political development that is being downplayed had suffered double setbacks through authoritarian and dictatorial leadership. Authoritarian leadership undermined the development of viable political institutions, which in turn undermined the pursuit of development after independence. This chapter therefore argues for the need for African governments to consider development in a holistic manner so that political management of the state should complement social and economic development. What is therefore needed is the reform of political governance in Africa by focusing on leadership and institutional change. In concrete terms, the chapter argues that African development should be predicated on good leadership that is able to institute structures through which the African people can attain their life goals.
