Nigerian elites are leading the Nation to ruin

DDM News

According to Moses Oludele Idowu the President of People of Honour Initiative, an NGO dedicated to inculcating the culture among Nigerians

A major challenge facing Nigeria today is that those trying to fix the nation do not fully understand its real problem.

Many, including scholars, trumpet that corruption is the major issue. However, corruption is only a symptom, not the root cause.

The real problem of Nigeria is the absence of a culture of honour among leaders, elites, and citizens alike.

This nation, plagued by a succession of weak, corrupt, and incompetent rulers, suffers mainly because honour is missing.

Signs of this can be seen everywhere: churches, mosques, universities, government offices, boardrooms, palaces, and streets.

Nigerians today genereatenally lack honour, and this cancer has  deep into society.

In Nigeria, anything is possible with enough money and connections. Prisons turn into five-star hotels for the rich, and the police become erran

With money, elections are rigged, stories are manipulated in the press, grades are changed, court judgments are influenced, and posts are bought.

A politician who was cleared of corruption charges in Nigeria later pleaded guilty for the same crimes in Britain.

The difference is that Britain still upholds a culture of honour, while Nigeria lacks it despite loud religious displays.

More tragic was the hero’s welcome the disgraced politician received upon returning to Nigeria, leaving the world bewildered.

Wadume, whose kidnapping saga led to the deaths of policemen, received a light sentence and a hero’s welcome at home.

Nigeria’s problem is not the constitution, tribalism, religion, or even corruption; it is simply the lack of honour.

Karl Marx noted that the attitude of elites shapes society. Nigeria’s elites prove that they lack honour daily.

It is now common for former governors to rush to court to block investigations into their tenure.

Instead of welcoming an opportunity to clear their names, they fight transparency, using the courts as shields.

One former Lagos governor, after just four years in office, resisted a probe by the State House of Assembly.

Another former Rivers governor secured a “perpetual injunction” against any inquiry into his administration.

Kaduna’s former governor, Nasir El-Rufai, also rushed to court to block legislative investigations into his bloody tenure.

The elites’ behaviour clearly shows they are subverting democracy rather than strengthening it.

Whenever trials approach, many politicians suddenly become ill, collapsing before cameras to delay justice.

A former power minister facing N30 billion corruption charges suddenly claims poor health and seeks overseas treatment.

In contrast, Second Republic politicians faced military tribunals bravely, without theatrics or feigned sickness.

Figures like Abubakar Rimi, Jim Nwobodo, and Bola Ige faced trials with courage and dignity.

Elder statesman Adekunle Ajasin endured detention without losing composure, showing true strength of character.

Today’s political class is a shadow of those predecessors—morally deficient, cowardly, and intellectually lacking.

Investigative journalist David Hundeyin bluntly observed that Nigerian elites are barely better in thinking than okada riders.

Wikileaks revealed First Ladies involved in oil bunkering and money laundering.

Even with free perks, these so-called leaders steal shamelessly because honour has disappeared from their bloodlines.

Across all sectors clergy, media, police, army, private companies, and academiathe honour test would reveal widespread failure.

The Watergate scandal in the U.S. showed that when honour still exists, even a President can be forced out.

Without honour, Nigeria’s constitution, presidential or parliamentary systems, are doomed to fail.

Nigeria is like a car stuck in mud; the solution is not more fuel but traction—traction called Culture of Honour.

History proves that real revolutions begin with groups rediscovering honour: the Puritans in England, Jacobins in France, Bolsheviks in Russia, Sons of Liberty in America.

But in Nigeria today, no uncompromised group exists to lead such a revolution.

A “Yahoo Boys Mothers Association” already exists, and more absurd groups will arise unless honour is restored.

When honour dies, shame disappears and everything becomes possible, even the most shocking immorality.

The call is simple: return to a culture of honour, young and old, rich and poor.

Teach children to fear God, respect others, and pursue right conduct over material gain.

Key principles must be taught: never take what isn’t yours, never bribe, submit to rule of law, and serve honestly.

Without restoring honour, no system can save Nigeria.

The future depends on whether we can revive this lost treasure.

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