2027: Why Nigeria Must Reject Leadership Failure To Secure Its Future -By Isaac Asabor

Until political leaders across every sphere of national life return to moral responsibility and value-driven conduct, Nigeria will continue its downward drift. Crime cannot be defeated by policing alone. Economic hardship cannot be solved by policy announcements alone. National renewal begins with leadership rooted in truth, justice, and accountability.

Scripture reminds us plainly: “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn” (Proverbs 29:2). Nigeria today stands at a moment when this truth is no longer celestial and philosophical, it is experiential. The widespread hardship, anxiety, and loss of public confidence across the country reflect a deep crisis of leadership character rather than merely a crisis of policy.

Nigeria’s present economic reality did not arise in isolation. It is the cumulative result of decades of governance marked by weak institutions, inconsistent policies, insufficient accountability, and the normalization of power without responsibility. Since the return to democratic rule in 1999, successive administrations have promised reform, yet structural problems persist and, in many respects, have deepened.

Today, Nigerians are grappling with a cost-of-living crisis of historic proportions. Economic reforms, most notably subsidy removal and exchange rate adjustments, were presented as necessary steps toward long-term stability. Yet for many citizens, these measures have brought immediate hardship without any visible institutional safeguards. Inflation continues to erode purchasing power, unemployment remains stubbornly high, and the widening gap between policy intent and lived reality has steadily eroded public trust. Paradoxically, senior government officials and defenders of the ruling party routinely insist that the economy is improving, even as such progress remains absent from everyday economic and social experience. What citizens hear instead are statistics framed in percentages, “the naira has appreciated by 0.5 percent against the dollar”, while in practical terms, the currency still trades above ₦1,500 to the dollar; far above what Nigerians would regard as improvement given the assurances made when power was taken.

Compounding these economic pressures is a deepening climate of insecurity across the country. From renewed violence and displacement in Benue State to disturbing incidents in Kwara and persistent attacks in other parts of the federation, many communities continue to face uncertainty about their safety and livelihoods. Reports of kidnappings, communal clashes, and armed attacks have reinforced a pervasive sense of vulnerability, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas where state protection is often perceived as inadequate or delayed. The persistence of these security challenges, alongside economic hardship, has further strained public confidence in governance and heightened anxieties about the country’s immediate future.

Not only that, the ongoing migration of Nigerian professionals and youth, popularly called “Japa”, has become one of the most telling indicators of national distress. Citizens do not abandon their homeland lightly. When departure becomes aspiration, it signals a failure of leadership to inspire confidence in the future. Scripture warns, “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18). Visionless governance produces directionless societies.

Nigeria’s crisis is therefore not merely economic; it is moral and institutional. Leadership without integrity weakens the very foundations of national life. When public office becomes an entitlement rather than a trust, governance becomes transactional. When promises are made without intention of fulfillment, public trust becomes collateral damage.

The Bible describes leadership as stewardship: “It is required in stewards that one be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2). Political authority, in this sense, is not ownership of power but responsibility for the welfare of others. Where stewardship is absent, exploitation thrives.

As Nigeria approaches another general election in 2027, the country faces what can rightly be described as a moral referendum. Elections must no longer be driven by sentiment, identity politics, patronage networks, or emotional persuasion. They must become instruments of accountability and national correction.

Two foundational qualities must guide electoral choice. First is competence anchored in vision. Leadership is not performance; it is responsibility. A leader must demonstrate the capacity to translate ideas into measurable improvement in citizens’ lives. Governance without direction produces instability. Scripture teaches, “By wise counsel thou shalt make thy war” (Proverbs 24:6). National challenges require wisdom, preparation, and foresight, not improvisation.

Second is integrity. Integrity is consistency between word and action, promise and performance, authority and responsibility. Leaders without moral anchors inevitably govern by expediency. Expedient governance may produce temporary advantage but always yields long-term national cost. As the Book of Proverbs affirms, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34).

Nigeria’s history of corruption scandals, financial mismanagement, and institutional erosion is not accidental. These outcomes flourish where accountability is weak and where citizens normalize impunity. Scripture cautions against this moral complacency: “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil” (Isaiah 5:20). A society that excuses misconduct in leadership inevitably inherits its consequences.

The hardship confronting Nigerians today must not only provoke frustration, it must produce discernment. Economic pain, unemployment, insecurity, and social strain are not abstract statistics; they are moral indicators of governance outcomes. Voting is therefore not merely a civic duty; it is a moral decision.

Citizens themselves bear responsibility in this process. Democracy reflects not only the character of leaders but also the standards of the electorate. When voters exchange long-term welfare for short-term inducements, they weaken their own future. Scripture offers a sobering warning: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). Political awareness is not optional; it is protective.

The 2027 election cycle presents Nigeria with another opportunity to interrupt a recurring pattern. For too long, electoral moments have generated hope that later dissolves into disillusionment. The nation cannot afford another cycle of expectation without transformation.

National recovery will not emerge from slogans, personalities, or rhetorical appeals. It will arise from principled leadership supported by citizens willing to demand transparency, competence, and accountability. Scripture emphasizes the power of collective responsibility: “If my people… shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear… and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). National healing requires both leadership reform and citizen responsibility.

Nigeria’s future remains unwritten. The coming election is not merely a political event; it is a test of national conscience. It is an opportunity to replace cycles of disappointment with a culture of responsibility.

Until leaders return to moral clarity and governance anchored in justice, national decline will persist. But if citizens insist on integrity and competence, elections can become turning points rather than recurring regrets.

The choice before Nigeria in 2027 is therefore unmistakable: continue the cycle of leadership failure or choose a path grounded in responsibility, stewardship, and accountability. History will record not merely who governed, but what citizens tolerated. And nations, like individuals, ultimately reap what they sow.