Muhammad, Idris Ladan2023-12-122023-12-122019-03-02Chinua. The Trouble with Nigeria Enugu; Fourth Dimension Publishers, 1983 Amba Awal, Patriotism and the Idea of the Self: A Psychoanalytical Study of Abubakar Gimba’s Innocent Victims and Trail of Sacrifice, Unpublished M.A. Dissertation, Submitted to the Post-Graduate School, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, 2010. Andrian, Leftwich, ”Governance, Democracy and Development in the Third World” Third World Quarterly. New York: Taylor and Frances Ltd, 2011. Akanbi, M. M. A. “The Challenges of Leadership and Accountability in a Challenging Society”, Journal of Policy and Strategy; National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru. Vol. 13 Nos. 1 and 2, 2003, p.66 Babajo, Ahmed Kofa, Post-Colonialism and the Novels of Abubakar Gimba, Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis, Submitted to the Post-Graduate School, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 2003. Gimba, Abubakar. Innocent Victims', Kraft Books Limited, 1988. Hagher, Iyorwuse, Leading Africa Out of Chaos: A God-Centred Approach to Leadership, Ibadan: Spectrum Books Limited, 2002. Ismail and Fajenyo. Abubakar Gimba: Perspective on is Writings and Philosophy. Ibadan: Krafts Books Ltd, 2008https://keffi.nsuk.edu.ng/handle/20.500.14448/3252Emerging from the experience of colonialism, Nigerians craved for assessable and affordable leadership and governance from the emerging politicians who took over the mantle of leadership. Unfortunately, such hope was dashed as they failed in their promises and responsibilities for entrenching sustainable development in the country. This paper examines Abubakar Gimba’s novel Innocent Victims and explores his idea of the leadership question in Nigeria and the quest for patriotic, dedicated and committed leaders that will transform the nation to the peak of development bearing in mind the abundant human and natural resources the country is blessed with. The paper observes through a Marxist interrogation of the novel that morality is an essential element in good leadership. It also explores the class stratification in Nigerian political system that negates the lower class, such that it affects the leadership and governance demonstration in Nigeria, hence, good governance and development has eluded the nation. It further craves for a shift from the present phenomenon to a more proactive state. Key Words: Colonialism, Leadership, Corruption, Governance and DevelopmentenArticle