Nigeria must retrace its steps to the foundational values of integrity, hard work, and communal solidarity—known as Omolúàbí in Yoruba, Ezigbo afa in Igbo, and Mutunchi in Hausa—to combat the rising tide of self-abductions and systemic corruption, argues Wole Olaoye, a public relations consultant and veteran journalist.
Drift from values fuels crime and desperation
Olaoye contends that Nigerian society has broken loose from its value-driven anchor, drifting aimlessly into an era where success is monetized and economic desperation drives youths to seek shortcuts. Decades of systemic corruption at leadership levels have taught younger generations that laws are for the weak and respectability can be bought. The traditional Ubuntu philosophy of mutual care has been replaced by a dog-eat-dog mentality, exacerbated by the erosion of extended family and community oversight, and the influence of social media promoting instant gratification and materialism.
This cultural shift has led to a sharp rise in crimes once considered taboo, such as kidnapping for ransom and ritual-related violence. To reverse this trend, Olaoye calls for a deliberate cultural and systemic shift: transforming governance so that hard work pays, enforcing the rule of law so that crime has consequences, and reintroducing value education in schools and homes. He notes that subjects like Civics and History were removed from the curriculum during military rule, contributing to the loss of moral grounding.
Self-abductions: a new low in greed and shame
The assault on established values has given rise to the phenomenon of self-abduction, where individuals stage their own kidnappings to extort money. These hoaxes artificially inflame public anxiety and worsen the perception of insecurity. Olaoye cites several cases:
- In Ekiti State, Mrs Grace Ogunleye, vice chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government Area, staged her own abduction. After a massive search operation by police, military, and local security, she was found hiding. She and three co-defendants were charged with conspiracy and staging her kidnapping.
- In Plateau State, a man conspired with friends to disappear and demand ₦5 million ransom. He confessed to being under financial pressure and owing substantial debts.
- In Edo State, a 45-year-old woman reported abducted; kidnappers demanded ₦50 million. Police tracked the ransom negotiator, who confessed the woman hired him. She was arrested at a hotel in Delta State, admitting she masterminded the plot to extort money from her husband and family.
These staged kidnappings divert elite anti-kidnapping squads, tracking technology, and tactical personnel from genuine abduction cases. Authorities have vowed to apply the full weight of the law to ensure long prison sentences for perpetrators.
Feedback: South Africa's real karma is structural failure
In response to Olaoye's previous article, reader Oladipo Olaonipekun rejects conspiratorial theories about xenophobic attacks in South Africa, arguing the real problem is the state's failure to address deep structural inequalities. He lists failures including: building a stable and inclusive society, human capital development, liveable townships, reducing dependence on welfarism, teaching history, and tackling land and economic inequalities. He notes that white South Africans—8% of the population—own 72% of agricultural land, while blacks own 4%. Urban land ownership is similarly skewed, with whites owning about 50%. Whites control 60-80% of corporate wealth, 62-66% of executive positions, and 60-67% of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Olaonipekun concludes that the problem is not other Africans but the state's inability to address these inequalities, which is the real karma.
The way forward: return to Omolúàbí
Olaoye emphasizes that retracing steps to the basics of Civics, History, and traditional values is as urgent as the war against terrorism. The forward march must be toward the abandoned road of Omolúàbí, Ezigbo afa, and Mutunchi—the old-school principles that once anchored Nigerian society.
