Political Culture and Good Governance in Nigeria

Good governance is undoubtedly the most fundamental condition for political. social and economic development in any society. This is because it creates an environment in which every one could unfold his/her productive, political and cultural potentials. The major problems that have consistently hindered good governance in Nigeria since independence are ethnic, religious and tribal sectionalism. It became a fundamental problem with the absence of a common belief system in the country's body politic. The paper examines the content and role of consensual, democratic political culture and its significance on good governance in Nigeria. The paper shows that the absence of this culture has brought about poor governance in the country. Since present political values are at odds with democracy and good governance, political reform and the empowerment of civil society alone may not engender lasting democratic governance in a heterogeneous Nigerian State. It is therefore imperative to put in place various constitutional provisions and mechanisms capable of evolving a new political culture that fosters order, stability, accountability, tolerance, transparency, social justice and equality