Muhammadu Sanusi, the Emir of Kano, has decried the erosion of moral values in Nigeria, stating that the country now celebrates wealth regardless of how it is acquired even when it’s stolen.
Gatekeepers News reports that speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Sanusi expressed concern that people involved in the looting of public funds are not only free from consequences but are often rewarded with high-ranking government appointments.
He said, “The entire value system of the country has been eroded. We have been ruled by people who have no values, no name behind them, and no desire to leave a name after them.”
Sanusi criticised the societal shift that now judges success by the number of properties, private jets, or the size of a bank account, regardless of whether such wealth was obtained legally.
He said, “These are people who define themselves by how many houses they own, how many private jets they have, how much money they have in the bank.”
“It is not important to them that people look at them and only see thieves, they see criminals, they see people who have taken the commonwealth.”
Sanusi warned that any society that glorifies materialism at the expense of integrity and continues to appoint known corrupt figures to roles such as ministers or senators is only laying the groundwork for its own moral and institutional decay.
The former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor lamented the lack of collective outrage over corruption, describing it as a culture of impunity. He emphasised that many in public service are driven by personal gain, not public interest.
He added, “We don’t have a sense of disgust for people who hold public office and amass wealth.”
“We reward them with appointments, with more public offices, and more opportunities to amass wealth and this is what Nigeria has become.”
“Many people go into government to make money, but you don’t go into government to make money.”
Reflecting on the legacy of the late Murtala Muhammed, Sanusi called for a moral and ethical rebirth in Nigeria. He noted that such reorientation must go beyond the efforts of presidents or Governors, and must involve every segment of society.
He said, “I think we need an entire regeneration of values. It is not about one person. The president or the governors, or the ministers cannot on their own change this country.”
Sanusi also faulted politicians for undermining the civil service, stressing the need to rebuild bureaucratic structures that uphold transparency and resist political manipulation.
He concluded by urging a return to strong institutions that promote accountability and integrity in governance.
