ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the causes and course of state pathology, which is becoming a characteristic of the African state system. The philosophical alienation from the colonial state engendered by the independence movements not only resulted in political disengagement, but gave rise to and sustained suspicion of the state. The disillusionment was stated even more forcefully by General Obasanjo, who said: Although in a different context, Nigeria was ruled and governed from amalgamation to independence by colonial military administrators. The disillusionment underlying the statement and general disenchantment in postcolonial Africa have reverberated recently in Nigeria. The immediate postcolonial political leadership in Africa apparently adopted socialism as a strategy of decolonization. It was seen as a feasible strategy because colonialism was perceived as a capitalist enterprise by the metropolitan nations. In order to revitalize the African states, the image of the state will have to be repaired so that it is endeared to the society.
