society
Leadership Without Accountability Is Nigeria’s Greatest Scam
Leadership Without Accountability Is Nigeria’s Greatest Scam.
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com
Nigeria must reject failed politicians and demand true accountability.
Nigeria’s politics is haunted by a PECULIAR HYPOCRISY: men and women who abandon the problems in their own backyards (moral failings, patronage, broken promises, dodged responsibilities) suddenly reappear on the national stage with grand plans to “SAVE THE NATION.” The truth is blunt and unforgiving: leadership does not teleport. It is forged in character, measured in responsibility and tested in the small, daily arenas of family, community and local institutions. If you cannot solve the crises closest to you, you have no business asking for the keys to a complex, fractious, 200-MILLION-PEOPLE state.
This is not SENTIMENTALISM. It is POLITICAL REALISM. Nations do not transform because someone declares themselves a savior; they change when leaders demonstrate competence, integrity and a habit of accountability; virtues first practiced at home. Scholars have long warned that social trust and civic virtue are preconditions for prosperity and stable government. As Francis Fukuyama reminds us, societies that cultivate trust avoid the heavy “TRANSACTION COSTS” of coercive enforcement; trust is not mystical; it is a measurable advantage.
Look at Nigeria today: we are economically vital (Africa’s largest economy in many respects) yet our public life is rent by weak institutions, corruption and chronic impunity. Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index ranks Nigeria 140 out of 180 countries, a stark metric that should alarm every voter who still believes slogans are substitutes for governance.
To be clear: we are not arguing that no one from a difficult background can rise to national leadership; rather, we insist on consistency. If you were a local council boss who could not balance budgets or discipline cronies; if you ran away from accountability in your constituency; if you always pointed fingers but never fixed the leaking roof at the community clinic, why should we trust you with a federal budget, a foreign policy portfolio or the security of millions?
Those who recycle themselves into power without institutional reforms are asking us to gamble our future on a personality rather than a plan. That gamble has consequences. For every headline about GDP growth or loan approvals, there are countless stories of public resources diverted, services unprovided and citizens betrayed. Consider that, even amid reports of macroeconomic recovery, corruption remains acute enough that law enforcement agencies still devote huge resources to recover stolen assets and sometimes win notable recoveries, but only after years of loss. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reported recovering nearly $500 million in one year; a welcome figure, but also a reminder that immense sums had to be chased down.
International partners continue to bankroll crucial projects precisely because our institutions struggle to marshal domestic resources reliably. In 2024 the World Bank approved a $1.57 billion financing package for Nigeria to strengthen health, education and power; funds that underscore both opportunity and dependency: opportunity because development remains possible; dependency because we still need massive external support to plug gaps created by domestic governance failures.
And yes, even where macro stats look better, the lived reality for many Nigerians remains grim. The World Bank noted strong headline growth in late 2024, but that same report stressed high inflation and the incomplete transmission of reforms to ordinary citizens. Growth without equitable distribution is a hollow victory.
So what must we do in 2027? First: reject recycled politicians who treat office as a family heirloom and accountability as optional. Look for candidates with three non-negotiable traits:
Demonstrated local competence. Have they shown the ability to manage resources, oversee projects to completion and accept blame when things go wrong? Small-scale success (fixing a primary school, ensuring transparent procurement in a local council or holding party officials to account) is a meaningful predictor of larger performance.
A record of public accountability. Leaders fit for national office have histories of EXPLANATION not EVASION. They invite audits, answer tough questions at town halls and accept judicial processes rather than subverting them.
Moral consistency. This is not moralizing, it is practical: a leader who tolerates corruption at home will tolerate it at scale. As Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala once said, “No one can fight corruption for Nigerians except Nigerians. Everyone has to be committed from the top to the bottom to fight it.” Commitment must begin at home and radiate outward.
We must also hold institutions to higher standards. Free speech, an independent judiciary, a transparent electoral commission and robust civil society are not luxuries; they are the scaffolding that prevents power from calcifying into privilege. Professor Attahiru Jega, who supervised two of Nigeria’s most scrutinized elections, has long emphasized the indispensable role of electoral integrity in making leadership legitimate. When elections are credible, politicians who fail locally have fewer ways to cloak their incompetence in national rhetoric.
Let us not ignore culture. Comedians, satirists and public intellectuals have an outsized role in puncturing the pretensions of recycled politicians. When Gordons lampoons politicians for their double standards or I Go Dye calls leaders “bad actors” their ridicule is not mere entertainment; it is popular truth-telling that keeps elites honest. Those truth bombs have the moral power to move conversations and mobilize voters.
Finally, citizens must translate outrage into disciplined choices. Voting is not a moment of theatrical loyalty; it is a transaction in which we exchange our future for competence and integrity. Use primaries, run local watchdog groups, support investigative journalism, demand transparent manifestos with measurable targets and (crucially) refuse to normalize failure. A candidate who cannot explain how they fixed a broken streetlight in their neighborhood should not be allowed to explain how they will fix national electricity.
This is not petty gatekeeping. It is survival. Nigeria’s potential remains immense, youthful workforce, diverse resources and entrepreneurial energy. But potential without structure is raw material; structure requires leadership that starts small and scales honestly.
So to every politician who insists Nigeria needs them while they have left their own political home in ruins: repair your house first. Attend the town halls. Answer the audits. Fight corruption in your backyard. If you cannot do that, stop asking for a larger stage. Nigeria deserves leaders who pride themselves on the mundane courage of responsibility, the courage to do the unglamorous work of fixing what is nearest.
2027 offers us a choice: RE-ELECT the THEATRICAL or choose the ACCOUNTABLE. We must be wise. We must be ruthless (against hypocrisy, not people) and demand that leadership begin where it always should: at HOME.
~ George Omagbemi Sylvester
society
Ramadan: Adron Homes Felicitates Muslims, Preaches Hope and Unity
Ramadan: Adron Homes Felicitates Muslims, Preaches Hope and Unity
Adron Homes & Properties Limited has congratulated Muslim faithful on the commencement of the holy month of Ramadan, urging Nigerians to embrace the virtues of sacrifice, discipline, and compassion that define the season.
In a statement made available to journalists, the company described Ramadan as a period of deep reflection, spiritual renewal, and strengthened devotion to faith and humanity.
According to the management, the holy month represents values that align with the organisation’s commitment to integrity, resilience, and community development.
“Ramadan is a time that teaches patience, generosity, and selflessness. As our Muslim customers and partners begin the fast, we pray that their sacrifices are accepted and that the season brings peace, joy, and renewed hope to their homes and the nation at large,” the statement read.
The firm reaffirmed its dedication to providing affordable and accessible housing solutions to Nigerians, noting that building homes goes beyond structures to creating environments where families can thrive.
Adron Homes further urged citizens to use the period to pray for national unity, economic stability, and sustainable growth.
It wished all Muslim faithful a spiritually fulfilling Ramadan.
Ramadan Mubarak.
society
Underfunding National Security: Envelope Budgeting Fails Nigeria’s Defence By George Omagbemi Sylvester
Underfunding National Security: Envelope Budgeting Fails Nigeria’s Defence
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by saharaweeklyng.com
“Fiscal Rigidity in a Time of Crisis: Lawmakers Say Fixed Budget Ceilings Are Crippling Nigeria’s Fight Against Insurgency, Banditry, and Organized Crime.”
Nigeria’s legislature has issued a stark warning: the envelope budgeting system; a fiscal model that caps spending for ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) is inadequate to meet the country’s escalating security challenges. Lawmakers and budget analysts argue that rigid fiscal ceilings are undermining the nation’s ability to confront insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, separatist violence, oil theft and maritime insecurity.
The warning emerged during the 2026 budget defence session for the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) at the National Assembly in Abuja. Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (APC‑Kebbi North), chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, decried the envelope system, noting that security agencies “have been subject to the vagaries of the envelope system rather than to genuine needs and requirements.” The committee highlighted non-release or partial release of capital funds from previous budgets, which has hindered procurement, intelligence and operational capacity.
Nigeria faces a multi‑front security crisis: persistent insurgency in the North‑East, banditry and kidnappings across the North‑West and North‑Central, separatist tensions in the South‑East, and piracy affecting Niger Delta oil production. Despite declarations of a national security emergency by President Bola Tinubu, lawmakers point to a “disconnect” between rhetoric and the actual fiscal support for agencies tasked with enforcement.
Experts warn that security operations demand flexibility and rapid resource allocation. Dr. Amina Bello, a public finance specialist, said: “A static budget in a dynamic threat environment is like sending firefighters with water jugs to a forest fire. You need flexibility, not fixed ceilings, to adapt to unforeseen developments.”
The Permanent Secretary of Special Services at ONSA, Mohammed Sanusi, detailed operational consequences: irregular overhead releases, unfulfilled capital appropriations, and constrained foreign service funds. These fiscal constraints have weakened intelligence and covert units, hampering surveillance, cyber‑security, counter‑terrorism and intelligence sharing.
Delayed capital releases have stalled critical projects, including infrastructure upgrades and surveillance systems. Professor Kolawole Adeyemi, a governance expert, emphasized that “budgeting for security must allow for rapid reallocation in response to threats that move faster than political cycles. Envelope budgeting lacks this essential flexibility.”
While the National Assembly advocates fiscal discipline, lawmakers stress that security funding requires strategic responsiveness. Speaker Abbas Ibrahim underscored that security deserves “prominent and sustained attention” in the 2026 budget, balancing oversight with operational needs.
In response, the Senate committee plans to pursue reforms, including collaboration with the executive to restructure funding, explore supplementary budgets and ensure predictable and sufficient resources for security agencies. Experts warn that without reform, criminal networks will exploit these gaps, eroding public trust.
As one policy analyst summarized: “A nation declares a security emergency; but if its budget does not follow with real resources and oversight, the emergency remains rhetorical.” Nigeria’s debate over envelope budgeting is more than an accounting dispute; it is a contest over the nation’s security priorities and its commitment to safeguarding citizens.
society
Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin) Celebrates as She Marks Her Birthday
Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin) Celebrates as She Marks Her Birthday
Today, the world and the body of Christ rise in celebration of a rare vessel of honour, Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba, fondly known as Eritosin, as she marks her birthday.
Born a special child with a divine mark of grace, Rev. Mother Eritosin’s journey in God’s vineyard spans several decades of steadfast service, spiritual depth, and undeniable impact. Those who know her closely describe her as a prophetess with a heart of gold — a woman whose calling is not worn as a title, but lived daily through compassion, discipline, humility, and unwavering faith.
From her early days in ministry, she has touched lives across communities, offering spiritual guidance, prophetic insight, and motherly counsel. Many testify that through her prayers and teachings, they encountered God in a deeply personal and transformative way. Near and far, her influence continues to echo — not only within church walls, but in homes, families, and destinies reshaped through her mentorship.
A mother in every sense of the word, Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba embodies nurture and correction in equal measure. As a grandmother, she remains energetic in purpose — accommodating the wayward, embracing the rejected, and holding firmly to the belief that no soul is beyond redemption. Her life’s mission has remained consistent: to lead many to Christ and guide them into the light of a new beginning.
Deeply rooted within the C&S Unification, she stands tall as a spiritual pillar in the Cherubim and Seraphim Church globally. Her dedication to holiness, unity, and prophetic service has earned her widespread respect as a spiritual matriarch whose voice carries both authority and humility.
As she celebrates another year today, tributes continue to pour in from spiritual sons and daughters, church leaders, and admirers who see in her a living reflection of grace in action.
Prayer for Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin)
May the Almighty God, who called you from birth and anointed you for His service, continually strengthen you with divine health and renewed vigour.
May your oil never run dry, and may your prophetic mantle grow heavier with greater glory.
May the lives you have nurtured rise to call you blessed.
May your latter years be greater than the former, filled with peace, honour, and the visible rewards of your labour in God’s vineyard.
May heaven continually back your prayers, and may your light shine brighter across nations.
Happy Birthday to a true Mother in Israel — Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin).
More years.
More anointing.
More impact.
If you want this adapted for a newspaper page, church bulletin, Facebook post, or birthday flyer, just tell me the format and tone.
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