There was a time in Nigeria when people lived peacefully in their homes, tilled their farmlands, and sent their children to school on scholarships. Businesses flourished, and though tribal, ethnic, and religious differences—exploited by politicians hungry for power—still lingered, there remained respect for life, culture, and moral values.
Today, the picture is different. Public lynchings barely raise an eyebrow if the victim belongs to “the other tribe” or religion. Human life is cheapened, and society has grown numb. The question, then, is: who is truly to blame for the mess Nigeria finds itself in?
A. The Citizens
- Citizens who sell their votes for a stipend, enabling corrupt politicians to rise.
- Citizens who have lost faith in the ballot and choose silence instead of action.
- Citizens who vote along tribal or religious lines rather than merit, integrity, and competence.
- Professors who falsify election results to serve the highest bidder.
- Law enforcement officers who protect thugs instead of enforcing the law.
- Musicians who glorify nudity and fleeting pleasures instead of using their platforms to educate and awaken society.
- Media workers who amplify controversies rather than truth.
B. The Government
- Leaders who buy their way into office and see governance as an investment to be recouped.
- Leaders who wear African skin but think with foreign minds, disconnected from the people.
- Leaders who betray public trust and treat citizens as subjects rather than equals.
C. Foreign Powers
- Nations that defend their own people but exploit Nigeria’s divisions for their gain.
- Foreigners who benefit from the disunity between government and the governed.
- Foreign interests allowed by our leaders to dictate terms without accountability.
D. Misplaced Religiosity
- A society that prays about everything but acts on nothing.
- People who put all wealth in “heaven,” yet practice greed on earth.
Yes, the government and foreign interests share their blame. But we must face a hard truth: the ultimate responsibility lies with us—the citizens. For it is the uninformed, the misled, and the compromised among us who become tomorrow’s leaders, only to be further shaped by outside influences. It is the “Animal Farm” cycle repeating itself.
Until Nigerians refuse to be bought, reject tribal politics, and deliberately choose leaders of proven character and competence—regardless of tribe, religion, or ethnicity—we will all remain accomplices in our nation’s decay.
So, I ask again: who is to be blamed for the Nigeria we have become?
I remain your friend and brother,
Maazi Onuora Obodoechi
Pen it down. 