When will the worst of us stop ruling the best of us in Nigeria
When will the worst of us stop ruling the best of us in Nigeria
With over 18.3 million children now out of school, Nigeria holds the record for the highest number of dropouts globally. More than 50% of its population lives below the poverty line, making it the country with the largest number of people in extreme poverty. In healthcare, there is just one doctor for every 1,000 patients. Yet, political leaders live in luxury, thriving off the suffering of the same people they have deliberately impoverished, using ethnicity and religion as tools to divide and conquer.
Many more tragedies surround us as citizens who once held onto the hope that Nigeria would one day change for the best. But now, on the lips of every hungry and angry Nigerian: “We just want them gone with their politics of ruin.”
Politics, in its purest form, should be a tool for development, progress, and upliftment. But in much of Africa, especially Nigeria, it has become an instrument for personal gain, selfish ambition, and state destruction.
From the recent political crisis in Rivers State to the Lagos State House of Assembly’s show of shame and then the National Assembly’s embarrassing spectacle, latest events in Nigeria reflect a leadership that weakens institutions rather than strengthens them.
The so-called “separation of powers” we were taught in school seems like a joke because, in Nigeria, corrupt politicians follow a different syllabus per say—one designed to keep them in power at all costs, without any checks and balances.
Their obsession with wealth and self-preservation has left the country in ruins. Many have died, leaving behind legacies of failure. Many more will die if this politics of ruin continues.
History paints a clear picture of Nigeria’s descent into ruin. General Sani Abacha (1993–1998) presided over one of Nigeria’s darkest eras—his regime was marked by corruption, human rights abuses, and economic exploitation. Even in death, the billions of dollars he looted are still being recovered. Many mockingly call him “the only ancestor that continues to send us money.” But how did he die? He died mysteriously, and history has never been kind to him.
Today, Nigeria still suffers under leaders who embrace the same politics of ruin, we know them. And Nigerians are waiting for their downfall. It is no longer a taboo for citizens to wish for the death of corrupt political leaders who have equally send many of their mates into untimely end.
But mind you, while my focus is Nigeria, this disease spreads across Africa like wide fire, many African leaders have looted and destroyed their nations. In Zimbabwe for example, Robert Mugabe (1980–2017), once a liberation hero, clung to power until his last days, leaving behind a collapsed economy. Land reforms meant to empower the people were hijacked by elites, leading to food shortages and mass suffering. Even after his death, Zimbabweans still suffer the consequences of his misrule.
In Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo (in power since 1979) has ruled for decades while his family enjoys an extravagant lifestyle funded by oil wealth. His son, Teodorín, has been repeatedly exposed for stealing state funds to finance his luxurious life, yet he remains untouchable. Meanwhile, the majority of Equatorial Guineans live in extreme poverty, waiting for the end of this family’s reign.
Africa’s problem is not a lack of resources but the presence of weak institutions and strongmen who prioritize their personal power over national progress. Institutions meant to serve the people—such as the judiciary, anti-corruption agencies, and security forces—are often weaponized against opponents or rendered useless. Nigeria is the perfect example of this failure.
Yet, the blame does not rest solely on the leaders. The people, too, play a role. Too often, Nigerians allow themselves to be divided by ethnicity, religion, and politics, making it easy for corrupt leaders to manipulate them. Poverty has become a weapon, with politicians handing out crumbs during elections in exchange for votes.
However, history has shown that the people can rise. The #EndSARS and #EndBadGovernance movements, though achieving little, proved that unity is our only power. Across Africa, youth-led protests have shaken corrupt regimes.
The 2011 Arab Spring, though imperfect, was a reminder that united citizens can dismantle even the strongest regimes. In recent years, protests in Sudan and other African countries have shown that young people are no longer willing to accept the politics of ruin.
The way out requires civic education, active participation, and demands for accountability. Leaders must understand that governance is not a personal business but a service to the people. Africa will only break free from this cycle of destruction when its people finally decide that enough is enough.
Now, we want them gone—because the institutions meant to protect us no longer do.
We want their end, to stop more people from living in a hopeless cycle of poverty.
Their ruin we want, not just because we are tired, but because this country deserves better.
When will the worst of us stop ruling the best of us?
Kareem Azeez writes from Lagos, you can reach him via email: kareemazeez70@gmail.com
