Nigerians are being forced to confront an uncomfortable truth in 2026: more than fifty years after Walter Rodney published How Europe Underdeveloped Africa, the biggest obstacle to the country's progress may no longer be external. According to Vanguard, the blame we heap on Europe, however justified by history, cannot explain the choices our leaders and voters make today.
The argument is spreading fast, and it deserves our full attention. Colonialism shaped the starting point. It did not shape the finish line. That part is on us.
From Rodney's Grievance to Nigeria's Responsibility
Walter Rodney's 1972 book remains a foundational text for anyone serious about understanding how Europe extracted wealth from the continent and distorted African economies. History has documented the colonial experience and its lasting consequences, and no panafricanist should ever surrender that memory.
But as Vanguard pointed out on October 14, 2026, more than five decades later the question has shifted. What are our own responsibilities towards Africa's development right now? The policies that determine whether our economy works are increasingly shaped by domestic political decisions, by the choices of the men and women we elect into office.
We understand international politics. We know how foreign pressure works, and outlets like Nigeria's battle for its own narrative show that sovereignty is a live fight. Sovereignty, however, does not excuse self-inflicted wounds.
Why Nigerians Keep Supporting Leaders Who Fail Them
Here is where the discussion gets raw. In communities where residents face bad roads, no water, unemployment and insecurity, political support sometimes remains unshaken. Why?
Because the candidate is from our community. Because he speaks our language. Because we share the same ethnic or political identity.
Vanguard described this plainly as a politics of choices that undermines citizens' long-term interests. A person struggles with transport costs and still defends a politician whose administration never fixed the road. An unemployed graduate campaigns for the same party, hoping the next administration will do better. Hope is not a strategy.
Economic hardship deepens the trap. A voter who cannot feed their family may find an instant offer of food or cash impossible to reject. Rice shared during festive periods buys silence, while quality education, functional healthcare and decent roads stay out of reach. Short-term relief replaces long-term development, and the cycle repeats every election cycle.
Divided by Loyalty, United by Poverty
Perhaps the sharpest observation in the Vanguard piece is this: citizens who share the same economic hardship turn on each other over political loyalty, even when they have identical interests in better living conditions. The poor hold real power through their numbers and their votes, but that power counts for nothing if it is spent defending ethnic champions and party flags.
In a democracy, the answer is simple in theory. Do not re-elect leaders whose records fall short. In practice, Nigerians keep defending politicians because of party affiliation, ethnic identity, personal relationships or campaign-season gifts.
What Real Accountability Looks Like in 2026
Vanguard argues that peace and progress require more than good intentions. They demand effective institutions, responsible leadership and citizens willing to demand accountability through lawful, democratic means.
Two responsibilities stand out. Political leaders must understand that public office carries duties and that electoral support is not permanent. Voters must assess performance objectively and decide on issues, not on identity, party loyalty or a bag of rice.
Development becomes achievable when a citizen in Lafia, Adavi or anywhere else can look past a temporary food offer and demand quality education for their children, working clinics and roads that connect farmers and traders to markets. That single shift, from survival voting to issue voting, would represent a more informed and accountable electorate.
There is already proof that focused governance delivers. When leaders commit to real infrastructure and social protection, whether through major power sector investments or targeted cash transfers for vulnerable households, lives change. The question is whether voters will reward delivery and punish failure.
The Ballot Box Is the Verdict
The most effective way for citizens to express dissatisfaction with poor governance, according to Vanguard, is through informed choices, peaceful civic engagement and the ballot box. That is how the demand for accountability translates into better governance.
Europe owes us an apology it will never give. But the power to demand better governance rests not only with political leaders; it rests with citizens who exercise their democratic rights and insist that officeholders deliver. Sovereignty begins at the polling unit.
FAQ
What did Walter Rodney argue in How Europe Underdeveloped Africa?
Published in 1972, the book argued that Europe contributed significantly to Africa's underdevelopment through colonial exploitation. It remains a key reference in debates about the continent's development trajectory.
Why does political loyalty persist despite poor governance in Nigeria?
According to Vanguard, voters often defend politicians based on ethnic identity, party affiliation, personal relationships or material benefits received during campaigns, even when basic services like roads, water and healthcare are lacking.
How can Nigerians hold leaders accountable?
Through informed choices, peaceful civic engagement and the ballot box, by refusing to re-elect leaders whose performance falls short and by judging candidates on issues rather than identity or temporary gifts.