From Nigeria/Biafra War to Increasing Ethnic Conflict : The Imperative of Nehemiah's Administrative Strategy? 

Nehemiah's style of leadership led to peace-building and progress during the post-exilic period in Israel. Drawing from this, the paper argued that Nehemiah's leadership motif expressed through incorruptibility and patriotism is the needed catalyst for purposeful administration in Nigeria and subsequent cessation of ethnic conflicts. Babylon defeated Israel in wars leading to captivity of many Jews. Consequently, the post-exilic period produced social cleavages that stressed group relations. Nehemiah managed the increasing intra and inter-ethnic contestations to develop Israel. Extant literature shows how violent ethnic clashes have undermined peaceful coexistence and development in Nigeria since the end of Nigeria/Biafra war. Using the theory of good governance which is consistent with Nehemiah's leadership, it appears that the consideration of Nehemiah's administrative model by Nigerian leaders is the basis for efficient leadership and consequent end to the lingering ethnic conflicts. Documentary research and unstructured interview methods were used to collect and analyse data for this study. The paper drew attention to the link between the enduring patriotism of Nehemiah and the end of ethnic conflicts in Nigeria.