As we count down to the 2027 general elections, the presidential campaigns have begun, in line with the elections timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Accordingly, I wish to reiterate my view on the hypocrisy of the elites, and how they have largely conbtributed to the current political, economic and social chanllenges of our country, and how the elites of this country should view and participate in governance in 2027 and beyond.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been taking some bold decisions and reforms in the past three years since the beginning of his administration. Those decisions have in many cases, further worsened the hitherto excruciating and brutal microeconomics and social situations of majority of Nigerians. For instance, according to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, as at two months ago, the number of multidimensionally poor Nigerians have increased to over 140million from the 133million as at the time President Tinubu became the President in May, 2023. Indeed the reforms have yielded some macroeconomic outcomes like the stabilization of foreign exchange. However, at the microeconomic level; the brutal and exacerbating national insecurity, increasing cost of living, rising employment, etc are yet to demonstrably and significantly reduce to bearable levels. This situation, have triggered regional, and national concerns, debates, and/ or controversies, as the government tries to defend, rationalize, justify, deny, and even somtimed push back (rightly, or wrongly).
Consequently, some of those decisions, or reforms have exposed the hypocrisy of the elites of this Country with regard to where they stand on germane issues that affect the masses or generality of the citizenry of Nigeria. In most cases, the hue and cries are louder or sustained, only if those decisions or reforms affect the elites, their families and friends. They are not really concerned or do not demonstrate the same level of emotions and sensitivities with regard to issues that only impact the masses of this country.
By ‘elites’, I mean, the middle-class citizens, who are mostly educated, gainfully employed, and part of the governance and leadership structure of Nigeria; in the civil service, public service, and private sector. We are mostly employees or employers of labor as professionals, traditional leaders, religious leaders, businessmen/women, entrepreneurs, academics, craftsmen, etc.
Except for a few, we, the elites have been serially failing the masses of this Country, by not really taking tangible actions that add value to our national collective good. Most of us remain aloof to our current national, and sub national realities. While some of us engage in ‘armchair ‘criticisms or cynicism’. The key questions are; What contributions and sacrifices are the Nigerian elites really making to better the political, economic, and social situation of our Country? What solutions are we offering, and/ or how are we part of the solutions? Curiously, when things affect our relatively comfortable lives, we try to gaslight the situations and behave as if ‘we are all in it together’ with the poor citizens.
Furthermore, during elections, about 80% of the people who go to vote, are the masses, i.e the poor people and the needy. Majority of the elites do not even turn up to vote during elections. We are not really part of actual political process, except if our selfish and parochial interests will be served, and yet we expect Nigeria to be better. Those are some of the things that I call the ‘hypocrisy of our expectations’.
When reforms or policies affect the masses, most of Nigerian elites do not really care, while some of them only engage in political statements, or play to the gallery. The elites are not persistent, and assertive on things that largely affect the masses. This behavior of the majority of Nigerian elites (which is similar to elitist behaviors in other societies and countries) has been the bane of our growth and development as a nation since independence – over 65 years ago. Sadly, majority of the elites that have been the architects and part of the problems that Nigeria and Nigerians are facing today; from our collusion in wanton corruption, to our deliberate or inadvertent contribution to the political, social, and economic retrogression of Nigeria – either by our actions or inaction.
An instance of some government decisions that further exposed the hypocrisy of the elites of this country was the allegations of ‘forced retrenchment’ of some staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) which happened between 2024 and last year (2025) under the current its leadership. There were claims of attempts to force some staff of CBN that are from some sections of Nigeria, out of the CBN. The CBN insisted that the exercise was based on an initiative to downsize an over-bloated CBN. The CBN claimed that part of the initiative, was the offer of exit packages to ‘willing staff’ that will accept to voluntarily resign. There were also allegations that the CBN leadership was planning to the Headquarters of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from Abuja (Northern Nigeria) to Lagos.
There was a major push back by some elites against the actions of CBN, and the questions I was asking were; How many of the CBN staff are actually children of the 65% multi-dimensional Nationally poor Nigerians – whether they are from northern or southern Nigeria? How many of them are children of the masses? I even heard that in some cases the elites don’t want their children to be transferred out of the CBN Headquarters in Abuja. How many children of the masses are working in those ‘elitist’ federal government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies? Therefore, it is only in the aforementioned cases that you hear Nigerian elites shouting or crying out.
If the elites of the Nigeria, put the level of fervor, gusto, and determination that we use to pursue our individual and collective interests, to pursue good governance, fairness, equity, justice, unity, and demand for accountability; Nigeria would have been far ahead of its current situation, which is far behind its peers across the world, i.e Malaysia, Brazil, etc.
Moreover, Nigerian elites should apply the same sentiments, commitment, and gusto to ensure the performance of political leaders not just at federal level but also at sub-national levels- Nigeria. How are the elites are advocating for, or pushing the agenda for government at federal and subnational levels to deliver good governance, catalyse economic recovery, growth and development, etc? And yet we still expect that by some magic, Nigeria will suddenly recover from the current multidimensional challenges, and zoom to economic prosperity, and social justice! That is why I will continue to talk about the hypocrisy of our expectations.
The elites and conspiracy of
corruption:
Most Nigerian elites have been serially failing the people of this country, even worse than the politicians. And why am I saying so? Because, we constitute the powerhouse of governance in Nigeria; as Presidents, Governors, Federal ministers, Chairmen of Boards, or Managing Directors. Chief Executive Officers, Board members (in public and private sector), Permanent Secretaries, Commissioners, Directors, Businessmen, Businesswomen, Entrepreneurs, Academics, Professionals, Religious Leaders, Traditional Leaders, etc. We are all members of the ‘Elite’ strata of Nigeria, and have been privileged and so Blessed by Almighty God. It is sad, and an ultimate disservice, that most of us that have been privileged to be in those privileged positions (currently or in the past), are in cahoots with the vested interest to further plunder resources or cripple the economy of Nigeria. Most of us have become the key drivers of the corruption value chain in Nigeria. And yet we conveniently blame Presidents or governors or ‘politicians’ at our convenience. What level of shamelessness!
Interestingly, for every politician that commits graft, you will find more that 10 elites that enable, facilitate, and protect corruption. Sadly, most of those corrupt elites are so crafty, that most of the time, they escape justice. While most of the elites share money, political positions, or when some of them engage in corrupt practices; they do not have religious, tribal, ethnic, or regional sentiments. Indeed, Nigerian elites are mostly united in the conspiracy of corruption in all its ramifications.
The elites of Nigeria should stop being ‘happy passive consumers and looters of our commonwealth’. We should dutifully and conscientiously, deliver our respective responsibilities for a better Nigeria.