Veteran Nigerian-American rapper and singer, Eldee The Don, has sparked a significant conversation with a powerful critique of the systemic issues plaguing Nigeria. In a thought-provoking video shared on Tuesday, January 9, 2026, the artist delved into the deliberate perpetuation of poverty and a profound societal value crisis.
The "Value Crisis" and the Mentality of Scarcity
Eldee, whose real name is Lanre Dabiri, posted the video on his Instagram with the caption "The value crisis, our biggest challenge today." He began his analysis by reflecting on a common Nigerian phrase: "e don cast," which signifies that something has lost its perceived value because it has become too common or affordable.
He used the example of BMW cars, illustrating that when prosperity becomes widespread enough for many to own such vehicles, society ceases to view them as special status symbols. According to the rapper, this mindset reveals a deep-seated problem where consumerism has distorted how human worth is measured. People are now valued by their material possessions—cars, houses, and social circles—rather than by their character, integrity, or contributions to society.
This shift, Eldee argued, makes comparison the foundation of self-worth. It pushes individuals to seek validation not in personal growth or communal well-being, but in being ahead of others. He questioned why success in the Nigerian context often seems to require that someone else is left behind, a mentality that stifles cooperation and collective progress.
Poverty as a Tool for Control and Relevance
The core of Eldee's message focused on how this warped value system benefits those in power. He explained that poverty is deliberately sustained because it serves as a potent tool for control. For politicians, a populace grappling with hardship and desperation is easier to lead, make promises to, and manipulate. Ending poverty would diminish a key source of their influence and relevance.
Eldee extended this critique to religious leaders, noting that they also leverage poverty. By offering hope and promises of miracles to those struggling, they create dependency. This cycle ensures that people keep returning for spiritual solutions rather than seeking or demanding tangible, systemic changes to improve their material conditions.
The artist emphasised that the problem is not confined to the corridors of power. He pointed out that ordinary citizens perpetuate this toxic cycle by constantly comparing themselves to others, often feeling a sense of validation only when they perceive themselves as doing better than their neighbours or peers.
Public Reaction and Calls for a Value Reset
Nigerians on social media reacted strongly to Eldee's video, with many praising his courage and the depth of his insight. The comments section became a forum for agreement and further discussion on the societal ill he highlighted.
One user, @klintoncod, commented, "Omo! I remember making a video speaking about this... you went deep boss!" Another, @coscaniino, described it as a "disease we inherited from a very young age and trained daily to continue."
@sheriousidipe echoed Eldee's call for empathy, writing, "my empathy can never allow me to rejoice or ignore ANYONE's downfall, or gatekeep and not help someone else come up!" Meanwhile, @officialdaddymo pinpointed the psychology behind it: "People like to gatekeep 'luxury' because inaccessibility makes them feel superior."
Eldee concluded his message with a call to action, urging a fundamental change in societal values. He stressed that Nigeria can only move forward meaningfully when the well-being of every citizen becomes a priority, trumping the compulsive need to be ahead of others. His critique serves as a mirror, challenging both the leadership and the citizenry to reflect on the values that drive individual and collective actions.
The video was shared amid other reports of hardship, including a call-out by critic VeryDarkMan regarding Nigerian scholarship students stranded in Morocco, highlighting the real-world consequences of systemic neglect that Eldee's commentary addresses.
