ABSTRACT
The essence of this chapter is to systemically appraise the subject of democratic governance and security institutions in Nigeria with a view to ascertaining the conundrum of integrity in Nigeria’s leadership. This chapter underscores that visionary leadership ineluctably grafts the doctrines of sovereignty of the state and guarantees human security. Without a doubt, Nigeria could be one of the biggest democracies in the world. However, anchoring their observation on the thesis of democratic governance, scholars have argued that the expectation from democratic regimes across the globe was the performance of the key functions of government of which security is crucial. Conversely, these observers of Nigeria’s democratic governance have since 1999 contended that insecurity in Nigeria poses a challenge to its democratic credentials. The chapter explores the nexus between Nigeria’s democratic governance and its security institutions. Using documented research and historical materials, the chapter concludes that corruption has been the spanner in the works of progress of the Nigerian security system and that power must reside with the people and not the few political elites.
