Returning to Old Values for a New Nigeria

The way forward is to look back at the past. To build a better Nigeria, we must embrace the ‘old school’ values of integrity, hard work, mutual respect, communal support, and honour. These principles are known as Omolúàbí in Yoruba, Ezigbo afa in Igbo, and Mutunchi in Hausa.

Losing Our Values

Life used to be guided by values until we lost our way. We became like a ship that has broken free from its anchor and is drifting without direction. As we drift, we make excuses for our situation while turning success into money. This has led to desperation among young people who want to succeed quickly in a world filled with corruption and failed leadership.

Years of corruption among leaders have sent a bad message to the youth. They learn that laws are just for the weak and that respect can be bought. When people see public funds being stolen without punishment, it kills their love for the country and their desire to follow the rules. Our traditional Ubuntu philosophy has been replaced by a selfish, competitive mindset.

With the decline of family values and community oversight, people are forced to make moral choices alone. They are influenced by social media and foreign pop culture that promote quick rewards and materialism. It is no surprise that we see an increase in crimes like kidnapping and ritual violence, which were once considered shameful.

To change this trend, Nigeria needs a serious cultural and systemic shift. We must change governance so that hard work is rewarded. The rule of law must be enforced so that crime has consequences. We also need to bring back value education in schools and homes. In the past, Nigerian schools taught a subject called “Civics.” Military rule took it out of the curriculum, just like it removed History.

Fake Kidnappings

The attack on our values has brought us to a sad point where terrorism is worsened by greed and shame. This has led to the rise of fake kidnappings. These hoaxes create panic and make people feel less secure in their communities.

What kind of desperation drives a public official to fake their own kidnapping? Last month, Mrs Grace Ogunleye, the vice chairman of the Ilejemeje Local Government Area in Ekiti State, was reported missing. Her car was found abandoned on the Ipere, Iludun Ekiti Road. This came after a real mass abduction at a church nearby, causing great concern among locals and political leaders.

A joint team of police, military, and local security launched a search and found her hiding. The Ekiti State Police Command investigated and discovered that the kidnapping was staged. They charged Mrs Ogunleye and three others with conspiracy and faking her own kidnapping.

In Plateau State, a man and his friends plotted to disappear and then called his family for ₦5 million. After being caught, he told police he was under financial stress and thought his family would pay quickly.

In Edo State, a man told police that his wife was kidnapped as she went to her shop. The “kidnappers” demanded ₦50 million and sent videos of her tied up. The police tracked the negotiator and found out that the woman had arranged the kidnapping herself. Officers arrested her at a hotel in Delta State, where she admitted to planning the scam to get money from her husband.

Fake kidnappings waste the time and resources of anti-kidnapping teams, which are meant for real cases. Authorities have promised to use the full force of the law against anyone found guilty of such acts.

This new greed will not take our society to a good place. We urgently need to return to the basics of Civics, History, and our traditional values. This is as important as the fight against terrorism itself. We must move forward on the path of Omolúàbí, Ezigbo afa, and Mutunchi.