Nigeria’s crisis is decades in the making
By Ogechi Okoro
Many Nigerians today ask the same painful question: How did we get here? Why has a nation so rich in talent, resources, and promise struggled for decades to translate potential into sustainable progress?
The answer did not emerge overnight. What Nigeria faces today is, in many ways, the lingering consequence of years of military rule and the culture it institutionalised. The military era did not merely interrupt democracy; it reshaped national values. It normalised impunity, glorified unearned wealth, and weakened the moral foundations of public life.
During those years, intellectualism gradually lost prestige. Professors and scholars abandoned classrooms in pursuit of political appointments and proximity to power. Public service became less about sacrifice and more about access. Over time, what should have been the exception became the norm.
That environment gave fertile ground to the “419 mentality”, the celebration of wealth without scrutiny and influence without accountability. Traditional institutions that ought to have defended communal values often became willing participants, conferring titles and honour on individuals whose wealth could not be explained. Society slowly lost its ability to distinguish success from excess.
The consequences are now visible everywhere. Years of poor governance eroded institutions, weakened development indices, and concentrated wealth in the hands of a few political elites and their protégés. In the process, many Nigerians began to internalise the dangerous illusion that prosperity could exist without productivity or hard work.
This is why Nigeria’s current predicament cannot be blamed on one administration alone. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu inherited a country already burdened by structural decay, economic fragility, and public distrust. The crisis predates him by decades.
Yet expectations for Tinubu were understandably high. His democratic credentials, his role in the NADECO struggle, and his long-standing image as a political strategist created hope that his presidency might represent a turning point. Many Nigerians believed that a man who once positioned himself as a voice against oppression would govern with reformist urgency.
But opposition politics and governance are two different realities. Criticising from the outside often appears easier than solving deeply entrenched problems from within the system. That distinction has become clearer with time. Whether Tinubu ultimately meets the expectations attached to his rise remains an open question. History has not delivered its verdict yet.
Still, Nigerians must also confront their own collective role in the nation’s decline. We lost our moral compass when we began celebrating corrupt leaders simply because they appeared powerful, charismatic, or generous. Some former military rulers continue to enjoy admiration despite the lasting institutional damage associated with their eras. Through carefully managed public perception, many succeeded in rewriting their legacies before the eyes of the people.
Nigeria’s situation now demands extraordinary leadership, leadership capable of withstanding pressure, criticism, and instability. Whether one agrees with Tinubu’s political style or not, he remains one of the most resilient figures in Nigeria’s political landscape. His supporters argue that many of his rivals lack the political stamina and strategic depth required to navigate the country’s turbulent realities.
In truth, Nigerian politics is often less about idealism and more about endurance. Leadership in this environment requires a capacity to absorb relentless pressure without folding under public outrage or social media storms. That quality, fairly or unfairly, is one reason many believe Tinubu remains politically formidable heading into 2027.
Unless there is a major political realignment or an unforeseen national shift, President Tinubu appears positioned for re-election. That possibility may frustrate some and encourage others, but it reflects the current political reality. Nations, like individuals, eventually confront the consequences of values tolerated over time. As the saying goes, no one harvests apples from a banana tree.
Nigeria today is reaping from seeds planted many years ago.
Yet despite everything, hope must remain alive. Nations have recovered from worse moments in history. Renewal is possible when citizens rediscover accountability, integrity, and collective purpose.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
- Dr. Ogechi Okoro writes from Hamilton, New Zealand
