For decades, Nigeria’s public conversation has returned to a familiar conclusion: leadership is the problem. From the era of military rule to the present democratic experience, many citizens have traced the nation’s struggles to those at the top. Yet a quieter and more unsettling shift is unfolding. The crisis is no longer limited to leadership alone. It now resides, in equal measure, within followership, in the everyday attitudes and actions of citizens toward one another.
Nigeria still has many decent and principled people. However, a large proportion of society reflects a troubling pattern in which citizens become obstacles to fellow citizens. Increasingly, individuals are quicker to criticise or undermine others than to offer support. A colleague’s progress is questioned rather than encouraged. A neighbour’s success is viewed with suspicion instead of pride. In some cases, people would rather withdraw completely than extend help, even when such help costs little.
This reality appears in ordinary spaces. In workplaces, opportunities are guarded jealously. In communities, cooperation is often replaced by silent rivalry. Information that could uplift others is withheld. Success stories are met with envy, while failure is sometimes greeted with quiet satisfaction. Over time, these behaviours weaken the bonds that hold society together and create an environment where trust becomes scarce.
These tendencies did not emerge without cause. Prolonged economic pressure, weak institutions, and persistent inequality have shaped a mindset centred on survival. Many people feel compelled to look inward, prioritising personal security above collective well being. What begins as a response to hardship gradually settles into habit, and eventually becomes part of the culture. In this environment, citizens unintentionally sustain the very dysfunction they often attribute solely to leadership.
The consequences are far reaching. No country can advance when its people operate in quiet opposition to one another. Progress depends not only on effective governance but also on a shared sense of responsibility among citizens. Where trust is absent, cooperation collapses. Where cooperation collapses, even the best policies struggle to deliver meaningful results.
Addressing this challenge requires honesty. Leadership remains important, but it cannot carry the full weight of national transformation. Citizens must also examine their role in shaping the society they desire. Everyday choices matter. Acts of fairness, encouragement, and integrity contribute more to national progress than they may appear.
A different path is possible. It begins with a shift in perspective, one that recognises another person’s success as part of a broader collective gain. Communities can be strengthened through deliberate support, mentorship, and openness. Trust can be rebuilt gradually through consistent and sincere actions.
Nigeria’s future will not be determined by leadership alone. It will also depend on whether its people can learn to stand with one another in practical and meaningful ways. Until that change takes root, the nation may continue to struggle, not only because of those who lead, but because of how its citizens choose to relate to each other.
– Inah Boniface Ocholi writes from Ayah – Igalamela/Odolu LGA, Kogi state.
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