.....As lobbying for appointments replaces innovation and enterprise, Nigeria’s future risks being auctioned to the highest political bidder
By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
In a recent address to the newly sworn-in 57 Local Government chairmen in Lagos State, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu urged them to exercise patience before appointing Secretaries to the Local Governments (SLGs) and Supervisory Councillors. He advised them to take the next 30 to 60 days to settle into their new roles and better understand the pressing needs of their respective communities. Only the appointment of Chiefs of Staff, to aid in day-to-day coordination, was recommended for immediate action.
Yet, even before the ink dried on the governor’s speech, lobbying began. From Lagos Island to Alimosho, from Eti-Osa to Badagry, political faithfuls—young and old—have stormed the homes and offices of party leaders, pushing for appointments. Some are fresh faces, while others are veterans of the patronage system, having served as SLGs or Councillors during the previous administration, in some cases for eight uninterrupted years.
This political scramble isn’t just a story about ambition—it is a worrying sign of a deeper societal rot: the growing belief among many Nigerian youths that political appointment is the easiest, most rewarding, and sometimes the only path to wealth and relevance. The streets may preach hard work and entrepreneurship, but the corridors of power have become a theatre of entitlement and exploitation.
A Culture of Entitlement Over Enterprise
Once, being politically active meant standing for something—ideals, reform, or the upliftment of a community. Today, it often signifies the fastest lane to opulence without accountability. Young people, who should be the engine of innovation and industry, now queue behind politicians hoping for crumbs in the form of appointments, contracts, or cash gifts.
READ ALSO:First Lady Oluremi Tinubu Celebrates Super Falcons’ WAFCON Triumph
What happened to the enterprising spirit that built startups in Yaba, that created Nollywood from nothing, that birthed Africa’s most viral music industry from Alaba to Apple Music?
Rather than build lasting value, many young people now believe that proximity to power is more profitable than productivity. In many cases, political office is seen not as a public trust but as a pipeline to personal enrichment. The consequence is not only a distortion of values, but a weakening of the democratic system itself.
Embezzlement Over Empowerment
Sadly, the fuel that drives this obsession is not just poverty—it’s perception. Political office is widely seen not as a service to the people, but as a ticket to loot public funds under the guise of administration. The houses, cars, and lavish lifestyles of many local officials, often grossly disproportionate to their legal earnings, only reinforce this belief.
When a Local Government Chairman builds a mansion in Lekki within two years while roads in his ward remain impassable, young observers aren’t blind. They learn, quickly and wrongly, that the system rewards corruption and punishes integrity.
Worse still, this mindset diminishes the value of entrepreneurial success. A graduate who runs a poultry farm or tech startup may struggle to get capital, recognition, or government support. But a political errand boy can own SUVs and travel abroad on public funds—all without any measurable input to national development.
READ ALSO:Victory Beyond the Pitch: How Nigeria’s WAFCON Triumph Rekindles Hope for a Troubled Nation
A Call for Redirection
Governor Sanwo-Olu’s call for patience and community focus should not be ignored. It is a subtle, but necessary attempt to bring back structure and purpose to grassroots governance. However, it will take more than executive caution to reverse a generational trend. It requires a deliberate national reorientation.
Government must make entrepreneurship truly rewarding. Banks must reduce the barriers to funding small businesses. The media must stop celebrating corrupt politicians while ignoring quiet achievers. Schools must teach not just theory but practical pathways to self-employment. Most importantly, political leaders must stop using youth as tools for thuggery and start investing in them as builders of the future.
Not Every Seat is a Throne
There is dignity in labour. There is honor in building something from scratch. A generation cannot thrive on political appointments alone. Nigeria cannot afford for its brightest minds to waste their prime years chasing portfolios rather than purpose.
We must teach our youths that service is nobler than self-interest, that success is sweeter when earned, and that real power comes not from sitting in an office, but from creating value in whatever you do—be it farming, coding, teaching, or trading.
Let the hustle shift from lobbying to leading lives of impact. Let governance be about giving, not grabbing. Let young Nigerians rise beyond the illusion of easy money and embrace the tougher, nobler journey of genuine achievement.
Ibrahim Kegbegbe is a journalist and social affairs commentator.
You can reach him via ibrahimtaofeekkegbegbe@gmail.com
08024248696
