Nigeria, often hailed as the “Giant of Africa,” stands like a once-powerful warrior now struggling to lift his sword. The nation brims with potential, yet it falters in execution—like a man whose manhood refuses to rise despite the urgency of the moment. The excitement of new political seasons comes like the stirring of desire, but just when it matters most, governance loses its strength, leaving the people disillusioned and frustrated. Nigeria is not barren of leadership; rather, it suffers from a dysfunction of purpose, a chronic inability to sustain the energy required for transformation.
Erectile dysfunction, in medical terms, refers to the inability to achieve or maintain an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse. In political terms, it is the failure of governance to deliver justice, economic prosperity, and social welfare. The symptoms are clear—leadership that falters under pressure, policies that collapse midway, and a political elite that cannot sustain the weight of national expectations. The Holy Bible warns in Ecclesiastes 10:16, “Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes feast in the morning!” Nigeria has been cursed with leaders who celebrate while the people groan, who feed their appetites while the nation starves.
Most Nigerian leaders are like customers in pharmacies, buying imported Viagra to treat their political impotence. Instead of addressing the root causes of their dysfunction, they rely on emergency policies, and economic shortcuts that provide momentary relief but no lasting solution. For instance, the removal of fuel subsidies and exchange rate unification which has led to high inflation, rising cost of living, and increased poverty and death rate.
Just as imported Viagra does not cure a man’s real problem, borrowed policies do not fix the fundamental issues of governance. Leadership remains weak, institutions remain fragile, and the nation remains dependent—unable to stand firm on its own feet.
Like a man whose manhood refuses to rise, Nigeria risks being permanently ridiculed. A man who cannot satisfy his household will soon be replaced by another; a nation that cannot rise to its potential will soon be overtaken by others. Countries that once looked up to Nigeria now shake their heads in pity. The world is moving forward, yet Nigeria remains trapped in a cycle of economic hardship, political instability, and social decay. The Igala people say, “A dog that refuses to listen to the hunter’s whistle will soon get lost in the forest.” Nigerian leaders have been warned time and again about corruption, mismanagement, and injustice, yet they persist in these vices. The need to combat corruption in full force to attract foreign investment in the country is not in their Holy Books.
Thomas Jefferson once remarked, “When a government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny.” In Nigeria, the government neither fears the people nor respects them. Instead, the people live in fear of those meant to serve them. Political brutality, intimidation, and economic strangulation continue unchecked. The democratic process, which should be the lifeblood of the nation, has been reduced to a transactional affair where votes are not counted fairly and even bought like perishable goods in a market. Political debates lack substance, and manifestos are mere recitations of empty promises. Those who should govern with wisdom and dignity have turned leadership into an avenue for personal enrichment.
Chinua Achebe, in The Trouble with Nigeria, rightly noted that the real problem is not the land or the people but leadership. A nation cannot rise when those at the helm are only interested in milking it dry. The great thinker John C. Maxwell said, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” If a nation’s leadership is dysfunctional, every aspect of governance will follow suit—education, healthcare, security, infrastructure—nothing will work as it should.
Nigeria’s relationship with democracy is like a marriage forced by circumstances rather than love. The passion is dead, the connection strained, and the results predictably disastrous. We practice democracy in theory but authoritarianism in action. Our leaders are quick to remind us that Nigeria is a democratic nation, yet they silence dissent, crush protests, and stifle free speech. What kind of democracy thrives in fear? In marriages where love is absent, the union exists only in name. Nigeria’s democracy exists only on paper. The spirit of democratic governance—accountability, service, justice, and representation—is absent.
The Igbo say, “A goat that refuses to listen to advice will be sacrificed at the market square.” How many more warnings must Nigeria ignore before it reaches the point of no return? Countries like Rwanda, Ghana and the United Arab Emirates have risen from difficult pasts to build thriving economies, yet Nigeria remains stagnant. Could it be that Nigeria is under divine judgment? The Holy Bible states in Proverbs 29:2, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.” Our streets are filled with mourning—mourning for the economy, for security, for justice. Wickedness and injustice have become the currency of Nigerian politics, and the people suffer for it. Imagine the high rate ritual killings which is a slap on our fundamental human rights.
The late T.B. Joshua once said, “Good people must take over leadership, or bad people will continue to rule them.” The church prays, the mosque prays, yet prayers alone cannot fix a system that is rotten at its core. Faith without works is dead (James 2:26). Nigerians must move beyond prayer and take deliberate action. Leadership must be held accountable, and the people must reject the culture of political apathy.
How do we cure Nigeria’s political dysfunction? Like any ailment, treatment requires diagnosis, medication, and lifestyle change. The first step is recognizing that our leaders are not the only problem—the people also play a role. We elect or selects corrupt politicians, accept bribes of two cups of rice, a satchet of salts and two cubes of maggi for votes , and refuse to hold leaders accountable. The dysfunction is collective, and so must the healing be. A man with erectile dysfunction may turn to herbs, therapy, or medical intervention. Nigeria needs a similar approach—structural reform, civic education, and leadership accountability. Anti-corruption laws must be enforced, and the judiciary must be free from political interference.
For lasting healing, Nigeria must change its political culture. Leaders should be chosen based on competence, not ethnicity or religion. The youth must take charge, refusing to be used as political thugs. Civil society must rise, ensuring that governance is people-centered. Nelson Mandela once said, “A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones.” Nigeria has long neglected its most vulnerable. Until governance becomes about service and not power, the dysfunction will persist.
A nation that cannot rise is a nation that will fall. Nigeria’s political dysfunction has kept it in a perpetual state of struggle, unable to fulfill its potential. But hope is not lost. Just as medicine can restore a failing body, the right leadership and collective action can restore Nigeria. Jesus said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). The truth is that Nigeria cannot continue on this path. The time for change is now. The nation must rise, not just in promise, but in action. The people must demand more, expect better, and refuse to settle for leaders who cannot perform.
Nigeria has suffered from political dysfunction for too long. It is time to find the cure. The question remains: will we take the medicine, or will we continue to pretend that all is well while the nation slowly collapses?
– Inah Boniface Ocholi writes from Ayah – Igalamela/Odolu LGA, Kogi state.
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