Nigeria: Achebe’s Warning Ignored, A Nation in Relapse

By George Omagbemi Sylvester

In 1983, Chinua Achebe wrote The Trouble with Nigeria, a prophetic and piercing essay that diagnosed the cancer eating away at the soul of the nation: leadership failure. Four decades later, Nigeria remains trapped in that same diagnosis—only now the disease has metastasized. Achebe declared, “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership.” Today, that truth echoes louder than ever. Nigeria is not just stagnating; it is regressing, teetering on the brink of political decay, economic catastrophe, and national disintegration.

A Nation Led into the Abyss
Achebe’s critique was made during the Second Republic, under the presidency of Shehu Shagari. He decried the corruption, tribalism, mediocrity, and lack of vision that defined leadership in Nigeria. Fast forward to 2025, and the country finds itself in a far worse state. Despite transitioning through multiple republics, military regimes, and democratic experiments, the core issue remains unresolved. Leadership, instead of evolving, has become more predatory, more aloof, and more disconnected from the common man.

Under the All Progressives Congress (APC) since 2015, Nigeria has witnessed a level of decay that can no longer be blamed on colonial legacies or external interference. The Nigerian naira has plummeted from ₦199 to the dollar in 2015 to over ₦1,300 by 2025. The inflation rate, currently at 33.2% (NBS, 2025), has crushed the purchasing power of millions. Public education and health care systems are on life support. Insecurity, which Achebe saw in its infancy, has now become a raging fire consuming communities across the nation—terrorism in the North, banditry in the North-West, and secessionist unrest in the South-East.

Leadership by Ethnic Arithmetic
Achebe warned about tribalism being weaponized for political gain. He wrote, “There is nothing wrong with the Nigerian character. The problem is with the Nigerian leadership.” Today’s leaders, rather than uniting Nigeria’s 250+ ethnic groups under one national identity, continue to exploit these divisions to consolidate power. The presidency is often seen not as a national institution but a prize to be rotated among ethnic regions, with little regard for competence, integrity, or policy direction.

Instead of promoting meritocracy, Nigeria’s political elite has normalized mediocrity, rewarding loyalty over performance. Leadership appointments are made not based on national interest but ethnic appeasement and nepotistic alliances. This is evident in the lopsided federal appointments, the marginalization of minority groups, and the weaponization of federal might against perceived political enemies.

A Broken Social Contract
When Achebe wrote The Trouble with Nigeria, he still had hope for national reform. Today, that hope is barely visible in the eyes of everyday Nigerians. The social contract between the people and the state has been violated beyond recognition. Citizens pay taxes, not in return for services, but as bribes to survive an oppressive bureaucracy. Power supply is erratic, roads are death traps, and public institutions are riddled with inefficiency and fraud.

Nigeria ranks 150 out of 180 countries on Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index (2024). Despite creating anti-corruption agencies such as the EFCC and ICPC, corruption has become institutionalized. Looters are recycled into government, while whistleblowers are hunted. Public funds meant for infrastructure, education, and healthcare vanish without trace, and there are rarely consequences.

From Oil Giant to Beggar Nation
Achebe observed that Nigeria’s oil wealth could become a curse if not managed properly. That curse is now reality. Nigeria, despite being Africa’s largest oil producer, has become a net importer of refined petroleum products due to the collapse of domestic refineries. Billions are wasted annually on fuel subsidies, which benefit a corrupt cartel rather than the average citizen. Meanwhile, unemployment is at a staggering 43.5% among youth (NBS, 2025), leading to mass migration, brain drain, and rising crime rates.

Ironically, Ghana—once seen as trailing behind Nigeria—has become a destination for fleeing Nigerian professionals. This reversal of roles highlights the absurdity of Nigeria’s failure. Countries with far less natural and human resources have overtaken Nigeria in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and global perception.

Education and the Collapse of Hope
Achebe lamented the decline of values in the Nigerian educational system, a decay which has now reached a crisis point. Public universities are constantly shut down due to strikes. ASUU, the academic union, remains in a perpetual battle with the government over salaries and working conditions. The result? A generation of half-educated youths with little critical thinking skills and even less hope for employment.

Private education, now a multibillion-naira industry, has become a survival mechanism for the elite. The poor are condemned to overcrowded classrooms, underpaid teachers, and outdated curricula. Without urgent reform, Nigeria risks producing a generation incapable of competing in a globalized world—what Achebe once described as “a people sleepwalking into irrelevance.”

The Deafening Silence of the Elite
Another of Achebe’s frustrations was the complicit silence of Nigeria’s intellectual and economic elite. Today, that silence has become a deafening betrayal. Billionaires and technocrats, instead of leading advocacy for good governance, have retreated into gated mansions in Lagos, Abuja, and abroad. Many have dual citizenships, foreign accounts, and exit strategies should Nigeria collapse.

Meanwhile, the common man is left to confront the harsh realities of fuel queues, bandit attacks, police extortion, and daily humiliation. A country of over 200 million people cannot continue to be ruled like a private estate. Achebe warned us about this elite indifference. We did not listen.

Is There Hope?
Achebe never gave up on Nigeria—neither should we. But hope, like faith, without works is dead. Nigeria must undergo radical leadership renewal. The political class must be dismantled and rebuilt. Meritocracy must replace mediocrity. National interest must supersede ethnic favoritism. Elections must be free and credible, not stage-managed rituals.

Civil society must rise. The youth must awaken—not with hashtags alone, but with concrete action: organizing, voting, holding leaders accountable. The media must remain the watchdog of the nation, not the lapdog of the elite. And above all, Nigeria must return to the ideals of justice, equity, and accountability.

Conclusion
Achebe’s The Trouble with Nigeria is not a relic of the past. It is a living mirror that continues to reflect the rot we have refused to address. His words should be required reading for every Nigerian politician, civil servant, and voter. Until Nigeria confronts the leadership question head-on, there will be no progress—only recycled chaos.

The tragedy is not that Achebe was wrong. It is that he was right, and we still chose to ignore him.

“From Emilokan to Emergency: The Tragedy of Tinubu’s Unprepared Presidency”
By George O. Sylvester

When Bola Ahmed Tinubu thundered “Emilokan”; Yoruba for “It’s my turn”, during his now-infamous declaration of presidential ambition, it resonated not as a call to serve, but as a personal entitlement. The former Lagos governor, long regarded as a political tactician lurking in the shadows of power since the early 1990s, assumed the presidency in 2023 with the self-proclaimed aura of inevitability. But barely a year into his tenure, it has become glaringly evident: Bola Ahmed Tinubu was profoundly unprepared for the very office he schemed, plotted, and politicked for over three decades to attain.

This is no longer just political opinion, it is the lived reality of over 200 million Nigerians now burdened by escalating poverty, insecurity, and economic hopelessness. The man who once strutted the corridors of Bourdillon like a kingmaker has proven to be a disaster in office, leading with a detachment so severe it borders on abdication.

A President Abroad: Governance by Absence

Since assuming office, President Tinubu has spent an estimated 70% of his leadership days in Europe or elsewhere outside Nigeria. From medical trips cloaked as “private visits” to diplomatic shuttles that yield no visible results, his preference for foreign soil has turned Nigeria’s highest office into a revolving door of absenteeism.

Economic analyst Dr. Ayo Teriba did not mince words when he recently remarked, “We are in a leadership vacuum. The ship is rudderless while the captain watches from a distant shore.”

This chronic absence undermines not only the operational machinery of governance but the symbolism of leadership. In a nation grappling with multidimensional poverty, a spiraling exchange rate, and unprecedented inflation, the least citizens deserve is a president who is physically and mentally present.

Policy Catastrophe: A Clueless Economic Agenda

Tinubu’s first act as president was the abrupt removal of fuel subsidy, an economically necessary but grossly mishandled decision. Implemented without a cushion or plan, it triggered a tsunami of inflation that devastated the already impoverished populace. Transportation costs doubled overnight. Food prices soared. Businesses collapsed under the weight of erratic fuel supply and unaffordable diesel.

Renowned economist and former CBN Deputy Governor Kingsley Moghalu summed it up sharply:
“Sound economic reform is not about bravado. It’s about sequencing, communication, and empathy. None of these were present in the Tinubu administration’s fuel subsidy removal.”

The naira, which was ₦460 to $1 in May 2023, has plummeted to over ₦1,400 within months, despite empty promises of “market reforms.” The CBN remains directionless, mired in confusion and panic-driven policies. Inflation now stands at over 33%, with food inflation nearing 40%, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Tinubuomics: Tax the Poor, Enrich the Powerful

Under Tinubu, fiscal policy has turned predatory. New taxes and levies are imposed almost monthly, squeezing an already overburdened informal sector. Yet the same administration refuses to cut government waste, reduce the bloated cost of governance, or hold political elites accountable.

“Tinubu’s economic strategy is a tale of punishing the poor while protecting the powerful,” said Professor Pat Utomi. “The government has become a collection agency for the elite.”

Instead of addressing structural issues, the administration obsesses over optics, renaming airports, appointing redundant aides, and holding international meetings that produce no real investment or outcomes.

Security in Shambles: A Nation Under Siege

The security situation remains dire. Boko Haram, bandits, unknown gunmen, and kidnappers continue to run riot. In Plateau, Zamfara, Kaduna, and even the FCT, citizens live in fear. There is no sense of urgency or coherent national security policy from the presidency.

Just weeks ago, over 300 schoolchildren were kidnapped in Kaduna in one swoop, yet Tinubu issued no national address. Former National Security Adviser Col. Abubakar Dangiwa (rtd) lamented, “There is no soul in this leadership. They do not feel the pain of the people.”

The Tinubu Myth: A Manufactured Legacy

Much of Tinubu’s rise was built on the myth of his “Lagos success.” But Lagos is not a model of good governance, it is a privatized state run by cronies. Its development has been largely driven by federal allocation and private sector investment, not Tinubu’s genius. In fact, Lagos ranks low in transparency, urban planning, and public education outcomes compared to other African megacities.

“What we see in Lagos is state capture, not development,” noted Dr. Chidi Odinkalu, former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission.

Cronyism and Nepotism: The Emilokan Manifesto in Action

Tinubu’s appointments so far reflect not merit but patronage. Political loyalists, ex-governors with corruption cases, and family members dominate the corridors of power. From the Central Bank to the Customs, Tinubu’s cronies are embedded, deepening Nigeria’s institutional decay.

It’s not “Renewed Hope” na recycled failure.

The Global Image Crisis

On the international stage, Nigeria’s reputation is now synonymous with instability. Investor confidence is at an all-time low. Global brands are exiting Nigeria, Procter & Gamble, GlaxoSmithKline, and others, citing policy inconsistency and economic chaos.

“Nigeria under Tinubu is not a place for business. It is a place for survival,” said Dr. Obadiah Mailafia before his untimely death. His words remain prophetic.

From Hope to Hopelessness: The Nigerian Mood

Ask the average Nigerian today what they think about the Tinubu administration, and you’ll be met with silence, sarcasm, or outright rage. The streets no longer chant “Emilokan”; they mutter “Wahala no dey finish.” The illusion has shattered. The so-called national messiah has become a symbol of elite entitlement and failed leadership.

As Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka once warned, “The man dies in all who keep silent in the face of tyranny.” It is time Nigerians spoke loudly against this deception masquerading as governance.

In conclusion: A Call for Reckoning

Tinubu’s presidency is not just a failure, it is a betrayal. A betrayal of the youth who voted for change. A betrayal of the suffering poor. A betrayal of democratic ideals, and stolen mandate. History will not remember Bola Tinubu as a reformer. It will remember him as a man who schemed for power but squandered it in spectacular fashion.

There is still time for correction, but not under this leadership. Nigeria deserves more than recycled ambition. We need courage, vision, and competence.

Until then, the nation waits. And suffers.

Good Friday: Ambassador Ajadi’s Bold Call for Nigeria to Embrace Christ’s Sacrifice to Overcome Corruption and Injustice

By Ibrahim Kegbegbe

As Christians across the globe commemorate Good Friday today, April 18, 2025—a sacred day marking the crucifixion of Jesus Christ—Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, the Chairman and CEO of Bullion Records, has extended a heartfelt message of reflection, urging Nigerians and the international community to draw enduring lessons from Christ’s ultimate sacrifice.

In a statement made available to The Merit Newspaper and other media platforms, Ambassador Ajadi described Good Friday as more than a religious commemoration. According to him, it is a day of deep moral introspection and a call to purposeful sacrifice, love, and justice—principles sorely needed in Nigeria’s current socio-political landscape.

“Good Friday reminds us of the depth of love and sacrifice that Christ showed to humanity. He gave His life not for a select few, but for all mankind—regardless of race, tribe, or religion. It is this level of selflessness that our leaders, especially at the federal level, must emulate in service to the people,” Ajadi stated.

He noted that at a time when many Nigerians are grappling with inflation, unemployment, and insecurity, the message of Good Friday should challenge those in authority to govern with compassion, humility, and a genuine heart for service.

“Christ didn’t die for Himself. He died for the weak, the poor, and the oppressed. That lesson should not be lost on those in power today. The federal government must place the needs of the suffering masses above personal or political interests,” Ajadi emphasized.

The music executive and philanthropist also appealed to citizens not to lose hope but to remain committed to doing good in their communities. “If every Nigerian—Muslim, Christian, or traditional believer—embodies the sacrificial spirit of Christ by showing love, tolerance, and respect to others, we will rebuild a nation we can all be proud of,” he added.

Reflecting on his own contributions through entertainment, Ajadi revealed that Bullion Records remains committed to producing music that uplifts, unites, and educates. “As we reflect on today’s spiritual significance, let us also appreciate the role of art and culture in healing society. Our artiste, Harcher, will be releasing more inspirational tracks aimed at promoting peace and national consciousness.”

Good Friday, observed during Holy Week, is a solemn reminder in the Christian calendar of the pain and price of redemption. Across Nigeria and the world, it is marked by church services, fasting, and prayers—particularly emphasizing forgiveness, humility, and hope in the face of adversity.

Ajadi went further by calling on both the government and citizens to renew their commitment to nation-building. “The resurrection story teaches us that even after pain, there can be restoration. Let us rise from this moment of hardship with a renewed resolve to serve one another, speak truth, and live in love,” he said.

This call from Ambassador Ajadi, a respected entrepreneur and patriot known for his vocal support for youth empowerment and national development, comes at a time when Nigeria is searching for healing, unity, and visionary leadership.