“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness.” — Isaiah 5:20
The yearning for excellence in Nigerian politics now reverberates louder than the gunfire of bandits and the eulogies of political sycophants. It drowns the groans of weary citizens and eclipses the clamor of overused generators. Yet, this cry is met with apathy — like incense offered in a shrine where the gods have grown indifferent. In a land so pregnant with promise, mediocrity has been enthroned, and those who dare to stand tall are cut down with the sickle of sabotage.
Ours is a nation where competence is crucified and vision is vilified. We have constructed a political ecosystem that feeds on the decay of integrity and rewards the architects of chaos. The pursuit of national excellence has become a solitary pilgrimage, a narrow path where the righteous are ridiculed, and the crooked are crowned. We now live in a dispensation where failure is fashionable and excellence is treated as a threat.
Nigeria, once the pride of black excellence, now staggers like a drunken giant — intoxicated by tribalism, greed, and elite conspiracy. The political arena, instead of being a theatre of service, has turned into a circus of deceit. It is no longer about nation-building but empire expansion. Public office is no longer a sacred trust but a marketplace of influence, where the highest bidder purchases power without a thought for the people. Governance has degenerated into an elaborate con, with godfathers pulling the strings while the electorate remain pawns in a perilous game.
The tragedy is not just the wickedness of the wicked but the silence of the righteous. Our pulpits are quieter, our mosques more diplomatic. Those who once thundered like Elijah now whisper like Eli. Pastor Chris Oyakhilome once proclaimed, “When the anointed is silenced, the people suffer in darkness.” And indeed, darkness has covered the land — not the darkness of night, but that of moral collapse and spiritual confusion. Prophets have become political decorators, and imams have exchanged prayer beads for briefcases.
Elections, once the voice of the people, are now silent auctions. Ballot boxes have become sacrificial altars where the will of the people is slaughtered by thugs in suits and clerics in cassocks. Political parties have devolved into cults of personality, where merit is sacrificed on the altar of mediocrity. The citizens, impoverished and disillusioned, have traded their future for bags of rice and sachets of seasoning. It is the paradox of our time — a people who hunger for justice but keep dining with oppression.
Still, amid the debris of decadence, some lights flicker. Dora Akunyili, who dared to sanctify public service. Peter Obi, who demystified governance with frugality. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who translated economics into a symphony of reason. These are torchbearers in a generation gasping for vision. Yet they remain anomalies in a system that devours its best.
The quest for excellence must begin with a reformation of values. We must unlearn the worship of money and relearn the ethics of responsibility. The educational system must cease to manufacture certificate holders and start producing nation-builders. From classrooms to congregations, we must return to the fundamentals — honesty, diligence, discipline. Bishop David Oyedepo warns, “If you don’t live for impact, you will die in regret.” A society without impact-driven leadership is a ship without compass — drifting, doomed.
The time has come to rediscover the sacredness of public office. Leadership must be redefined as sacrifice, not status; as stewardship, not stardom. We must stop idolizing looters and start canonizing those who labor quietly in honesty. Our national awards must no longer be given to those who pilfer but to those who pioneer. Until we invert our reward system, we shall continue to descend the ladder of relevance among the comity of nations.
Let the churches arise, not just to pray but to prophesy with fire. Let the mosques awaken, not just to chant but to challenge injustice. Let the civic space be reignited with the passion of Gani Fawehinmi, the intellect of Wole Soyinka, and the resilience of Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti. The youth must shake off their political apathy and become architects of a new dawn — a generation that does not wait for manna but cultivates the field.
Let those in exile return with ideas and let those at home embrace reform without suspicion. Let the classrooms produce visionaries, not vagabonds. Let the civil service become a sanctuary of excellence, not a dungeon of redundancy. Let electoral offices be filled by servants, not sycophants. Only then shall Nigeria emerge from the ruins — not as a nation of slogans, but as a republic of substance.
And as we navigate this narrow path toward national renaissance, let us remember: “If the drumbeat changes, the dancer must adjust his steps.” Nigeria’s rhythm must now change — from the erratic tune of incompetence to the solemn cadence of excellence. We can no longer afford to reward charlatans and expect statesmen. We must enthrone a new creed: that excellence is not elitist — it is essential.
Let the trumpet sound, not for war but for wisdom. Let the builders come forth, the dreamers rise, and the watchers keep vigil. For only when the righteous take their place at the gates shall the land be healed, and posterity be proud to call this place home.
– Inah Boniface Ocholi writes from Ayah – Igalamela/Odolu LGA, Kogi state.
08152094428 (SMS Only)
