The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has criticised the prevailing culture of rewarding corrupt individuals in Nigeria with public office appointments, describing it as a reflection of a broader erosion of values across society.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Wednesday, the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor lamented the tendency of the Nigerian society to celebrate those who have stolen public funds by giving them even more public opportunities.
The entire value system of the country has been eroded,” he said, adding that many public officials were not properly raised, which, according to him, explains their conduct and distorted understanding of public service.
“Many people go into government to make money but you don’t go into government to make money,” he stated.
Sanusi expressed concern over the value orientation of many political leaders, whom he described as lacking integrity or any desire to build a respectable legacy.
“We have been ruled by people who have no values; they have no name behind them, and they have no desire to leave a name after them. These are people who define themselves by what they own; how many houses they have, how many private jets they have, how many billions they have in bank accounts. And they think that is something.”
He noted that such individuals are unbothered by how they are perceived by the public, even when seen as criminals.
“It is not important to them that people look at them and they only see thieves, they see criminals, they see people who have taken the commonwealth. It is simply not important because for them, values do not matter,” he added.
Reflecting on the legacy of the late military head of state, Murtala Muhammed, 50 years after his death, the Emir called for a national revival of values.
He stressed that rebuilding Nigeria’s value system requires the collective effort of both the leadership and the citizens.
“I think we need an entire regeneration of values. It is not about one person, the president or the governors, or the ministers cannot on their change this country,” he said.
Sanusi warned that the continued glorification of material wealth regardless of how it is acquired will only entrench the culture of corruption further.
“A society in which materialwealth, no matter how you get it, is respected, is glorified, where people who are known to have stolen money get rewarded with ministerial appointments, that society will continue to reproduce itself,” he stated.
Nigerian Tribune