society
The Funeral of the Nigerian Conscience: Why Citizens, Not Politicians, Are Nigeria’s Biggest Problem
The Funeral of the Nigerian Conscience: Why Citizens, Not Politicians, Are Nigeria’s Biggest Problem.
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com
“We are not victims of bad leaders; we are architects of our own decay.” Until Nigerians change themselves, no leader will save this country.
Introduction: A Nation in Denial.
Nigeria bleeds daily, not only because of corruption in high places, but because the very soul of its citizens is corrupted. We curse politicians as thieves, yet glorify fraudsters on the streets. We denounce bad governance but demand “MOBILIZATION FEES” before carrying out even the smallest task. We complain about looters in Abuja, yet we sell our votes for ₦10,000 and a bag of rice.
The bitter truth is this: Nigeria is not destroyed by TINUBU, ATIKU, OBI, JONATHAN or SOWORE. Nigeria is destroyed by NIGERIANS themselves. Our leaders are not aliens from Mars; they are our BROTHERS, SISTERS, CLASSMATES, CHURCH MEMBERS and UNCLES/AUNTIES. They did not fall from the sky; they are the true reflection of us.
As Chinua Achebe, the father of African literature, once noted: “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership.” Though here is the wicked twist Achebe did not fully expand; leaders are produced by the people. Leadership is only the magnifying mirror of the moral collapse of its citizens.
The Nigerian Disease: Corruption Without Shame.
From the grassroots to the presidency, corruption is not just an event in Nigeria; it is a culture. We condemn politicians who loot billions, but we bribe policemen with ₦1,000 and call it “SETTLEMENT.” We decry inflated contracts, yet we inflate our CVs, fake receipts and cheat our own employers.
According to Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index 2024, Nigeria ranks 150 out of 180 countries, a shameful position for Africa’s largest economy. Yet, who fuels this corruption? The average Nigerian. Every election season, vote-buying becomes a festival. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) admitted in reports that 2023 elections witnessed widespread vote-trading, with citizens willingly exchanging their future for ₦10,000.
As Wole Soyinka once thundered: “The man dies in all who keep silent in the face of tyranny.” In Nigeria, it is worse. The man dies not in silence, but in collaboration with tyranny.
Religion and Tribalism: The Twin Chains of Slavery.
Nigerians are not ruled by politicians alone, they are ruled by PASTORS, IMAMS and TRIBAL LORDS. We pay tithes to BILLION-DOLLAR MEGA CHURCHES while praying for divine intervention to solve potholes on our streets. We sow “SEEDS” of faith for prosperity, yet trek home while our pastors fly private jets. According to a 2019 Pew Research survey, Nigerians are among the most religious people in the world; yet among the most CORRUPT.
Similarly, TRIBALISM remains Nigeria’s greatest disease. We pretend to preach unity, but our patriotism begins and ends with “MY TRIBE MUST EAT FIRST.” This is why elections are never about COMPETENCE but ETHNICITY. In 2023, political campaigns collapsed into tribal wars online, where Nigerians fought themselves more viciously than they challenged the system.
Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president, warned: “Seek ye first the political kingdom, and all things shall be added unto you.” Though Nigerians seek first the tribal kingdom and everything else (justice, unity, progress) gets subtracted.
Poverty as a Tool of Enslavement.
Over 133 million Nigerians live in multidimensional poverty (National Bureau of Statistics, 2022). Yet, even in hunger, Nigerians laugh at the wrong jokes. They line up for bags of rice and ₦5,000 during elections, mortgaging four years of their lives for a week’s survival.
This is why CLOWNS in AGBADA and PUPPETS in CASSOCKS keep owning Nigerians like livestock. Poverty has hypnotized the people into obedience. As Karl Marx said, “Religion is the opium of the masses.” In Nigeria, poverty is the opium and religion only intensifies the addiction.
Nigerians Don’t Hate Bad Governance; they Envy It.
Let us stop deceiving ourselves: Nigerians do not hate looters, THEY ASPIRE TO BECOME THEM. Ask a struggling young man what he would do if given the chance to rule and he will tell you he would “SECURE HIS FAMILY FIRST” before serving the people. This mindset is the reason Yahoo-Yahoo (internet fraud) is celebrated as “SMARTNESS.”
EFCC reports that internet fraud cases have risen by over 200% in the last five years, with university students making up the largest percentage of culprits. These same youths will call politicians “THIEVES,” yet they run Ponzi schemes, fake forex platforms and scam their own neighbors.
As Mahatma Gandhi warned: “The world has enough for everyone’s needs, but not enough for everyone’s greed.” Nigeria is drowning not because of lack, but because of greed; greed that lives in the heart of the people themselves.
The Generational Betrayal.
Our parents lived modest lives with dignity; many of them farmed, traded or worked civil service jobs and still raised large families with peace of mind. Today, Nigerians are poorer than their parents, yet more arrogant, more wasteful and more gullible.
Instead of building industries, young people chase fast wealth through fraud. Instead of demanding accountability, they worship celebrities who flaunt ill-gotten wealth. Instead of producing leaders of integrity, we produce CULTISTS in POLITICS and THIEVES in CASSOCKS.
What do we pass on to the next generation? Poverty, silence, tribalism and blind religiosity. This is why the Nigerian dream has become a nightmare.
The Way Forward: Mirror, Not Messiah.
Nigeria does not need another messiah. Not Tinubu, not Atiku, not Obi, not Sowore. Nigeria needs Nigerians to change themselves first.
Stop selling your vote.
Stop demanding bribes for ordinary services.
Stop glorifying Yahoo boys.
Stop defending corrupt politicians because they share your religion or tribe.
Start holding your leaders accountable in local communities, not just in Abuja.
Start practicing the integrity you demand from others.
As Nelson Mandela once declared: “We are the masters of our own fate. The power to change the world is in our hands.” Until Nigerians confront themselves in the mirror, NO ELECTION, NO PRAYER and NO REVOLUTION will save this country.
Final word: The Funeral of the Nigerian Conscience. This is not just a critique; it is a funeral service. The corpse being buried is the Nigerian conscience.
We say politicians are thieves, but the truth is they are only reflections of us with better opportunities to steal. We say the country is broken, but in reality, Nigerians are broken. Until the people admit that the devil they are fighting is inside them (not Aso Rock) their children will inherit the same foolishness they inherited from their parents.
Nigeria’s greatest tragedy is not bad leadership. It is the citizens who love bad governance, envy it and secretly wish to practice it when given the chance.
Until Nigerians change themselves, Nigeria will remain a graveyard of wasted potential.
George O. Sylvester
Political Analyst & Commentator
Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com
NAWOJ: SEKINAT, CHARITY GETS VOTE OF CONFIDENCE
The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists,(NAWOJ), Ogun State Chapter Executives has unanimously passed a vote of confidence on Chairman NAWOJ SEKINAT Salam and the Financial Secretary, Charity James, saying that, their leadership reflect the ideal and objectives of NAWOJ.
This was revealed in a communique issued at an Emergency meeting of the Executive held at the NUJ State Council, Iwe-Iroyin in Abeokuta.
The vote of confidence on the Leadership of NAWOJ was unanimously signed by all the five executive members that attended the meeting with the vice chairperson taking apology for official engagement outside the state capital.
According to the communique ” Consequently, NAWOJ Ogun State Chapter, reaffirms it’s unwavering support and confidence in the Chairperson and the Financial Secretary, Sekinat Salam and Charity James respectively, Urge them to continue in their commitment to purposeful leadership in the best interest of the association and the society at large”.
Speaking briefly with Journalists after the emergency Executive meeting, the Chairperson, Nigeria Association of Woman Journalists (NAWOJ), Com. Sekinat Salam, said the meeting was necessary as the news of her suspension was laughable and insulting because it is like a pot calling a kettle black in this case, saying that the Leadership of the State Council, Com. Wale Olanrewaju has no local standing to suspend her or any executive member, even he cannot be a judge in his own case.
According to her” The Leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ogun State led by Wale Olanrewaju has always been misusing power without recourse to the constitution of this noble Union, hence has no local standing to suspend me or any executive member “.
She said only the Central Working Committee (CWC) has the constitutional rights to sanction or suspend any members found wanting after due process has been followed.
While calling on members to stay calm, Com. Sekinat Salam assured members of positive representation of NAWOJ at both the State and National level, adding the success recorded under her administration cannot be overemphasized.
She therefore called on the National leadership of NUJ to critically look into the matter, either by setting up independent committee to investigate the issues and resolve the matter as quickly as possible.
Adron Homes Chairman Congratulates Oyo State on 50 Years of Progress
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Adron Homes and Properties Limited, Aare Adetola Emmanuelking, has congratulated the Government and people of Oyo State as the state marks its 50th anniversary, describing the occasion as a celebration of resilience, cultural pride, and sustained progress.
He noted that since its creation, Oyo State has remained a strong contributor to Nigeria’s socio-economic and cultural development, emerging as a hub of commerce, education, and innovation.
According to him, the Golden Jubilee offers a moment for reflection and renewed commitment by government, private sector players, traditional institutions, and citizens toward building a more inclusive and prosperous state.
Aare Emmanuelking commended the state’s ongoing transformation through investments in infrastructure, economic expansion, and human capital development, adding that sustainable growth is deliberate and must remain purpose-driven.
He also praised the leadership of the current administration while acknowledging the contributions of past leaders whose efforts laid the foundation for today’s Oyo State.
Reaffirming Adron Homes’ commitment to national development, he described Oyo State as a land of opportunity. He wished the state continued peace and prosperity, expressing confidence that the next fifty years will bring even greater achievements for the Pace Setter State and its people.
TY BURATAI HUMANITY CARE FOUNDATION CONDOLES WITH BIU EMIRATE OVER TRAGIC ATTACK
In a profound expression of sorrow, the TY Buratai Humanity Care Foundation has extended its heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and the entire people of Biu Emirate, Borno State, following the recent tragic attack attributed to Boko Haram. This devastating assault, which occurred at a work site in northeastern Nigeria, claimed the lives of dozens, including brave soldiers committed to protecting the nation.
In a statement released to the press and signed by the Chairman of the foundation, Ibrahim Dahiru Danfulani Sadaukin Garkuwan Keffi/Betara Biu, the Grand Patron of the Foundation, His Excellency Amb. Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai CFR (Rtd), former Chief of Army Staff, described the incident as “one too many senseless, barbaric, and ruthless displays of inhumanity.” His Excellency emphasized the heartbreaking impact of such attacks on innocent, hardworking citizens striving to make a positive difference in their communities.
The Grand Patron praised the swift and decisive response of military personnel during this critical time, underscoring their brave commitment to safeguarding the nation. He called upon them to maintain this momentum, commending their courage and sacrifice in the face of adversity. “May Almighty Allah forgive their souls and grant them Aljannah Firdouse,” he remarked, encouraging the nation to honor their spirit of sacrifice as they rally together to rebuild and restore hope across the region.
In his statement, Gen. Buratai highlighted the importance of collective action in overcoming the challenges posed by insecurity, urging concerned citizens to increase their efforts in fostering a virile community that future generations can cherish. “Together, we can surmount these troubles,” he asserted, calling on all patriotic leaders and citizens to unite in the fight against violence and insecurity.
The TY Buratai Humanity Care Foundation remains committed to supporting initiatives that promote peace, security, unity, and prosperity. As the foundation extends its condolences to the bereaved, it also calls upon all segments of society to collaborate in creating a better and safer future. May Allah guide and protect the nation and lead it toward enduring peace. Amen.
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