Ibuakevwe Decries Poor State Of Nigeria

By Ambrose Ologide

The immediate past Oghwuvwie (President) of Agbarha Warri community of Edjeba in Warri South Local Government Area, Deacon Ejiro Ibuakevwe, who contested for the Warri South Local Government Council chairmanship seat under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has decried the poor state of the Nigerian nation.

This was contained in a statement he titled, ‘ Nigeria: A Nation Betraying Its Citizens ‘ made available to our correspondent in Warri last weekend.

The statement reads, “Inter alia: ‘Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country and one of the continent’s richest in natural resources, should be a land of opportunity, prosperity, and hope. Instead, it has become a theater of broken promises, failed governance, and betrayal. For decades, Nigerians have watched their nation spiral from potential greatness into a daily struggle for survival, leaving many to ask: How did the giant of Africa become a betrayer of its own people?

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‘Nigeria is blessed beyond measure. From the oil-rich Niger Delta to the fertile farmlands of the North and the bustling entrepreneurial energy of its cities. The nation has everything it needs to thrive. The country ranks among the top oil producers in the world, possesses vast mineral wealth, and has one of the youngest, most vibrant populations globally.

‘Yet, the average Nigerian lives in grinding poverty. Basic necessities such as electricity, clean water, quality healthcare, and functional public education remain a luxury. Millions of citizens wake up each day in a land that promises everything but delivers nothing.

‘The bitter irony is that Nigeria’s wealth has become a curse to its people. Instead of fueling development, it has fueled corruption and elite greed. For decades, oil revenues—worth hundreds of billions of dollars—have vanished into private pockets while public infrastructure collapses. The betrayal is clear: a nation that has everything has chosen to give its citizens nothing.

‘The root of Nigeria’s betrayal lies in its leadership. Since independence in 1960, Nigerians have endured a revolving door of leaders—both military and civilian—who have largely failed to rise to the occasion.

‘Corruption has become a national culture, eating deep into every level of governance. Politicians treat public office as a personal ATM, looting funds meant for schools, hospitals, and roads. The result is a society where a few individuals live in obscene wealth, while millions of citizens are left in darkness, both literally and figuratively.

‘In 1999, the return to democracy brought hope. Nigerians believed that freedom from military dictatorship would usher in a new era of accountability and development. Yet, two decades later, the reality is a deepening cycle of disappointment. Each election season, politicians promise a “New Nigeria,” yet once in power, they perpetuate the same old system of self-enrichment, leaving the citizens to suffer.

‘IIn this betrayal, leadership has not only failed to provide but has also crushed the dreams of millions of young people. University graduates roam the streets jobless, not because they lack talent, but because their leaders have failed to create an environment where innovation and enterprise can thrive.
‘Nigeria’s economy is another evidence of betrayal. Despite its size and potential, the country is a paradox of wealth and poverty. According to recent data, over 133 million Nigerians live in multidimensional poverty. Inflation has eaten deep into incomes, unemployment is rampant, and the naira has become a symbol of national humiliation.

‘Instead of creating policies that empower local industries and generate jobs, successive governments have mismanaged the economy, leaving it dependent on oil and vulnerable to global price shocks. The agricultural potential of the nation remains untapped, industries have collapsed under the weight of bad policies, and foreign investors are fleeing due to insecurity and poor infrastructure.
‘Meanwhile, the political elite enjoy lavish lifestyles funded by the very citizens they have abandoned. Private jets soar above pothole-ridden roads, and medical trips abroad have replaced investment in local hospitals. The message to ordinary Nigerians is clear: your government exists to serve itself, not you.

‘Perhaps the most glaring betrayal is the failure to provide security, the most basic duty of any government. Nigeria has become a killing field, where citizens live in fear of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and violent crime.

‘The Northeast has endured over a decade of Boko Haram terror, displacing millions and turning entire towns into graveyards. In the Northwest and Middle Belt, bandits raid villages, kidnap schoolchildren, and demand ransoms with impunity. The South has its own nightmare, from herdsmen attacks to cult violence and armed robbery.

“‘Despite billions of naira budgeted for security, Nigerians are still unsafe. Soldiers are under-equipped, police officers are underpaid, and security agencies are riddled with corruption. Ordinary citizens have become their own protectors, relying on vigilantes and prayers rather than a functional government.

“‘A nation that cannot protect its citizens is a nation that has betrayed its most sacred responsibility.

‘Nowhere is Nigeria’s betrayal more painful than in its treatment of the youth. Young Nigerians, full of talent and ambition, are left to drown in a system that neither educates them well nor provides opportunities afterward.

‘Public universities are frequently shut down by strikes, secondary schools lack basic teaching facilities, and many young people graduate with degrees that the economy cannot absorb.

“In 2020, the #EndSARS protests reflected the frustration of a generation that felt abandoned and voiceless. The brutal response of the state, including the tragic Lekki Toll Gate shooting, confirmed what many already feared: the government would rather suppress its youth than serve them. This betrayal has sparked a brain drain, as the best and brightest continue to “japa” (emigrate) to countries that value their potential.

“A nation that forces its youth to flee is digging its own grave, for no country can thrive while chasing away its future.

“Two key indicators of a nation’s commitment to its citizens are healthcare and education. On both counts, Nigeria has failed.

“‘Public hospitals are underfunded, under equipped, and understaffed. Women die in childbirth from preventable complications, children die from malaria, and medical doctors are leaving the country in droves because the government refuses to prioritize healthcare.

“‘Education is no better. From primary to tertiary levels, the public education system has become a shadow of itself. Teachers are underpaid, classrooms are overcrowded, and libraries and laboratories are relics of the past. For the children of the poor, the Nigerian state offers a future of ignorance and struggle. Meanwhile, politicians’ children study in foreign schools and receive treatment in foreign hospitals, demonstrating a complete abandonment of the social contract with their own people.
‘Despite all this, Nigerians are resilient. Hope has become a national currency, renewed every election cycle. Citizens continue to pray, hustle, and survive in the face of adversity, holding on to the belief that one day, Nigeria will fulfill its promise.

‘But hope alone is not enough. A nation that continuously betrays its citizens cannot expect eternal patience. The danger is that continued neglect will push more citizens to despair, resentment, and eventually rebellion against a system that seems designed to crush them.

‘Nigeria’s betrayal of its citizens is not just a story of bad governance; it is a warning of what happens when a nation abandons its social contract. Citizens must demand accountability at every level. Civil society, the media, and the youth must refuse to be silenced or distracted by empty promises and ethnic politics.”

He continued: “‘Real change will not come from leaders who have repeatedly failed; it will come when ‘Nigerians collectively decide that enough is enough. A government that refuses to serve its people must be forced—through the ballot and sustained civic action—to return power to the citizens.

“For too long, Nigerians have been patient with betrayal. The time has come to transform anger into action, disappointment into determination, and betrayal into a blueprint for a new Nigeria—one that serves, protects, and uplifts its people.
‘Until then, Nigeria remains a nation that has betrayed its citizens, but it does not have to remain that way forever.”