To the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Its Functionaries, and the Youths of This Great Nation,
There is a fundamental truth we have long accepted: *after God, it is the government* . The government is the machinery of the state, *vested with the sacred power to direct, redirect, and regulate the behaviour of its citizenry.* It is the architect of public policy and the enforcer of law. *Its primary duty is to create an environment where order, justice, and decency thrive.*
However, we stand today at a precipice. *We are witnessing not just a failure of governance, but a profound moral collapse.* The Nigerian state has become a paradox, *a system that preaches one thing and practices another* . The executive arm, which should be the *vanguard of societal regulation, has become the primary source of societal pollution*. We are being led by a generation of leaders who have lost the moral authority to govern, and *our youths, the future of this nation, are drowning in the toxic sea of their example.*
This is not just a critique; it is a diagnosis of a national emergency. *The symptoms are glaring, and they are being transmitted from the top echelons of power down to the streets.*
*The Systemic Rot: Hypocrisy as a Governing Principle*
How can a nation fight a war it is not prepared to win because its generals are part of the enemy? This is the Nigerian reality.
1.. *The Cultism Conundrum:* We declare a fierce war on cultism, yet our political landscape is littered with men and women who openly display the symbols and regalia of secret societies. They are initiated into these cults, use their influence for power, and *then have the audacity to sit in judgment over young people they themselves have inspired.* How can you fight what you are practicing?
2.. *The Drug and Alcohol Farce:* The NDLEA and other agencies wage a noble battle against drug abuse, yet *the biggest consumers of illicit substances and alcohol are often the very government functionaries who are supposed to lead the fight* . A boss who is a known drunkard or smoker cannot credibly preach abstinence. *The youth see their leaders in clubhouses, in public functions, and in the news, indulging in the very vices they are told to avoid.* The message is: “Do as I say, not as I do.”
3 *.. The Craze for Ill-Gotten Wealth*: Our society has normalized corruption. *Politicians and appointees with no known source of income build sprawling mansions and ride in long convoys of exotic cars, spraying naira recklessly at public functions.* The youth, seeing this as the ultimate definition of success, have taken the cue. *Ritual killings, armed robbery, kidnapping, and cybercrime have become the desperate scramble to get rich quick.* _A 15-year-old boy driving a ₦50 million car is not a prodigy; he is a symptom, the security agencies, from the FRSC to the police, instead of confiscating these glaring red flags of crime, collect their shares and look the other way._ The message is: *”Get money by any means necessary; no one will ask questions.”*
*4.. The Erosion of Decency:* Go to any nightclub or public gathering, and you will see government officials engaging in reckless and indecent behaviour. *The youths, their innate desire for identity and belonging, have not just copied this lifestyle; they have perfected it.* Our streets are now filled with young boys and girls dressed in a manner that is completely alien to our culture, *with no fear of government intervention because they know the government is the chief architect of this madness.*
*The Path to Redemption: A Call to Duty*
This trajectory is unsustainable. If we do not change course, we are building a nation of sociopaths. *But all is not lost. The remedies are not rocket science; they are a matter of will.*
*To the Government and Its Functionaries:*
*1.. Restore Moral Authority Through Leadership by Example* : You cannot legislate morality from a position of immorality. *The government must deliberately seek out persons of clean character, integrity, and proven discipline to serve.* A man who does not smoke or drink should be the head of the agency fighting drug abuse. *A person with a track record of accountability must lead the anti-corruption agencies.* We must raise a generation that values our culture and traditions, *and this must begin with our leaders.*
*2.. Dismantle the Culture of Opulence and Waste:* Mr. President, Governors, you do not need a convoy of 50 vehicles to govern. *You are sending the wrong message to that young boy watching you.* Your convoy says, “Power is about intimidation and extravagance.” *But if you wait at the traffic light, you send a message of humility and respect for the rule of law.* Leave the comfort of your office and the scripted press conferences. *Check on your subordinates and appointees unannounced.* Let them know they are being watched and held to a standard.
*3.. Enforce the Law Without Fear or Favour:* The Nigerian Police and all security networks must be reformed. *Collecting money from motorists is not a salary supplement; it is corruption and it degrades our nation* . Officers must be made to face serious consequences for corruption. If *a 15-year-old is found driving a car worth millions, the vehicle should be confiscated, and a full investigation launched into the source of that wealth.* The boy and his parents must provide answers. *The law must be a sword that cuts both ways, not a mere slap on the wrist for the highest bidder.*
*To the Youths of Nigeria:*
You are the hope of this nation, but you are currently being enslaved by the vices of a decadent generation.
*1.. Reject the False Gospel of Get-Rich-Quick:* The man who steals to buy a car and a mansion is not a success; he is a thief and a curse to society. *Do not admire him.* Do not look up to him. He is on his way to prison, or worse, to a violent end. *True wealth is built on hard work, integrity, innovation, and patience.* Look to the teachers, doctors, engineers, and entrepreneurs who are building value, *not the politicians who are stealing it.*
*2.. Embrace Your Cultural Identity:* You are not defined by the latest Gucci bag or the most expensive champagne at a nightclub. *You are defined by your character, your heritage, and your contribution to your community.* Rediscover the beauty of our cultures, our languages, and our traditions. *The nakedness and vulgarity on our streets is not civilization;* it is a symptom of a lost identity. Dress with dignity. Speak with respect.
*3.. Hold Your Leaders Accountable:* You have a voice, and you have power in numbers. *Do not allow yourselves to be used as political thugs during elections* . Use your platforms—social media, community groups, student unions—to demand accountability. *Ask questions*. *If a leader cannot explain his wealth, expose him. If a law is unjust, protest it peacefully. You must be the generation that says, “Enough is enough.”*
*A Solemn Charge*
This is a defining moment for Nigeria. *We are at a crossroads between a future of chaos and a future of promise* . The government must wash its hands of hypocrisy and lead with character and integrity. *The government functionaries must see their positions as a sacred trust, not a licence to loot and debauch.* The youths must resist the seductive lure of a corrupt system and reclaim their destiny.
*There is no role model in stealing.* There is no honour in corruption. There is no future in decadence. *Let us build a Nigeria where leadership is synonymous with integrity, where the law is respected by both the ruler and the ruled, and where the youth can dream, not of stealing millions, but of building a legacy that will last for generations.*
*The time for rhetoric is over. The time for action is now.*
Courtesy
Dcn.Comr. L.I. Isiraojie, MANUPA,
A Concerned Nigerian,
writing from Port Harcourt, River State..
