“True patriotism consists not in waving the flag, but in striving that our country shall be righteous as well as strong,” declared the historic statesman James Bryce. Reflecting this deep yearning for systemic integrity, the renowned social critic Aberjhani observed, “When a culture of corruption becomes the baseline of governance, the honest citizen is transformed into an exile within their own homeland.” Today, let’s reflect on the exhausting cycle of national embarrassments and ask the reflective question: when will enough truly be enough for Nigeria?
Do you know that the recent shocking controversy surrounding the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) – a supposedly fake agency that reportedly acquired physical office space within the Federal Secretariat, opened a central bank account, and miraculously secured a 1.3 billion Naira allocation in the national budget — is merely the latest addition to a nauseating history of institutional scandals? This bizarre phantom council follows a long, exhausting timeline of surreal national dramas, from the infamous tale of a mystical python swallowing vast sums of public money to repeated, humiliating reports of government agents negotiating security issues with terrorists on terms dictated by terrorists. The abuse of the rule of law by some of those with access to power has grown so pervasive that even our everyday social feeds are stained by it, as seen in a recent viral video of a law enforcement officer maltreating a civilian on the mere whim of a lady claimed to be a fake spouse of a senior naval officer. While ordinary, law-abiding citizens continue to bear the crushing weight of global suspicion, facing scrutiny and profiling whenever they travel abroad or attempt international business, their frustrations are worsened by the blatant irresponsibility of some elites who live comfortably off our collective wealth. It is incredibly painful that the tireless resilience, global achievements, and honest hard work of ordinary Nigerians are constantly overshadowed by the loud, persistent stink of high-level financial and political scandals. As the iconic activist Charles Oputa would poignantly ask, “Our mumu never do?” It is a piercing pain that those who are constitutionally entrusted to act responsibly to polish Nigeria’s international image are often the very culprits actively tarnishing it through their corrupt actions and complicit inactions.
So, it is time we the citizens enhanced our capacity to reject this institutionalized “anyhowness” and join the collective demand for a principled, standardized approach to governance, commerce, and personal ambition in Nigeria. The national hierarchy must immediately transition from performative, reactive damage-control press statements to implementing watertight, uncompromised structural processes that prevent ghost agencies from infiltrating the national budget. Follow-up action requires the national assembly and independent anti-graft institutions to conduct rigorous, transparent audits of all public registries, office allocations, and financial channels to purge the rot once and for all. We must build a system where proximity to political power, ethnic connections, or financial muscle no longer grants anyone an exemption from the rule of law or an open license to abuse public trust. True systemic transformation will only begin when citizens collectively refuse to tolerate the normalization of absurdity and demand absolute accountability from the local government councils up to the highest offices in the land. Our public institutions must be systematically re-engineered so that transparency is automated, making it impossible for fraudsters and entitled elites to exploit loopholes at the expense of the nation’s reputation. It is time to establish a society where merit, dignity, and standard operating procedures dictate national life, ensuring that the law protects the vulnerable rather than serving as a weapon for the connected.
As you step out each day, remember that a new Nigeria cannot be built on the fragile foundation of performative outrage. We must actively distance ourselves from shortcuts and championed lawlessness, recognizing that the abuse of public trust diminishes every single citizen, regardless of his or her current social or political standing. Only when we replace the chaotic theater of political “anyhowness” with an unyielding commitment to standard processes will we finally see the end of these nauseating stories and the dawn of national renaissance.
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Esang Esitikot, a chemical engineer, is a professor of occupational health and safety. He is a public affairs analyst, UN Ambassador for Peace, and a pro bono lecturer at the Institute of Health, Safety, Security and Environment, University of Uyo. He can be contacted via 08035103559 (Whatsapp only) or email (esitikot@gmail.com).
