Moral Decay In Nigeria ( SEE PHOTOS)

 Moral Decay In Nigeria by Lilian Ngozi

What moral values do we have in Nigeria? Someone might say that as a country we really didn’t have pronounced moral values but we knew right and wrong as enshrined in our constitution. Therefore, one cannot say that there are generally acceptable values and morals taught or preached in Nigeria know as ‘Nigeria morals and values’. I guess this is because of our differences such as beliefs and culture/traditions, however, we know good and bad, right and wrong.

Morals and value system cannot exist without the family. The family is bedrock or should I say it’s where the foundation of morality and values originate.  So when we talk about moral decay in our society it means the family is failing or has failed in bringing people up with certain morals and values beyond the ones taught by religion, so that where others fail, we will have something that is buried deep in our bones.

To be fair to our families, they could be doing much to the best of their abilities but the biggest challenge is Poverty, greed and love for money!  If Daddy and mummy can do anything for money, why wouldn’t the children?  Unfortunately, once such belief is embedded every other belief or moral is outa window!

Let’s discuss money.

For money most of us are ready and willing to do anything! How many parents would reject a yahoo yahoo boy (a Fraud, a scammer) for a son in-law? How many parents query the source of living of their prospective son in-law that is based abroad? How many truly investigate that rich young man coming to take their daughter’s hand in marriage? How many of our young ladies will say no to a man that they do not understand his source of wealth. How many will take to their heels once they notice the change in the activities of their husbands? I tell you just a ridiculous number; Say 2 out of 15.

My father- God bless his soul never failed to tell each and every one of us his children that a good name is better than silver or gold.  He made sure that it sank into our bones and we grew up with it. Although, just like many decent parents I see my brothers’ struggle with the weight of responsibilities with their children as modern parents, they are weighed down by the pressure and I understand what many other parents are facing especially where resources are limited.

Whatever is the cause we must strive to hold unto something stronger and better or else we will fall for anything. This is why we need to get governance right, because, as long as we struggle for everything to survival in Nigeria, then it’s a free fall of immorality! Shame is outa of the window and anything is doable to survive!

And if we continue to descend on this path, we will accept and settle for anything! We will lose every sense of right and wrong, good or bad. Because only in a morally decay society will bribery and corruption become a norm.  Ill-gotten wealth is celebrated with no questions asked, a murderer can comfortably seek political office and win, and a murderer has followers that worship him, a thief is celebrated instead of being condemned. There is no fairness, no equity, no transparency, no honesty, and no honour! People’s conscience has been bought with Naira and Kobo or have been seared that they no longer feel bad about their acts. No explanation, no accountability, no remorse!

Only in a morally decay society that ex leaders who should be in jail for corruption, theft, mismanagement and misappropriation of public funds, abuse of political office - just to mention a few are the ones dictating the pace of the nation! How sad!  

Take a look around you; do you in all sincerity and honesty see a bright future? Do you know what future holds for Nigeria? What will be of the future generations?

The future is indeed bleak!

 By Lilian Ngozi For LNB