Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has accused Nigerian politicians of displaying patriotism only while they occupy public office, describing some of them as “predators of patriotism” once they leave power.
Ezekwesili made the remarks on Monday during a live interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time, where she criticised the quality of governance in Nigeria and urged citizens to pay greater attention to the country’s present condition rather than becoming preoccupied with the 2027 general elections.
The Founder of the School of Politics, Policy, and Governance said politicians in government often reject criticism of poor governance and portray those who challenge their policies as enemies of the country.
According to her, the continued focus on electoral cycles has contributed to what she described as the erosion of human dignity and the value placed on human life in Nigeria.
Ezekwesili argued that Nigerians should begin to “vote for themselves,” insisting that the country’s current leadership has contributed to significant degradation among citizens.
“The Nigeria construct is orphaned, and it’s only loved by the people I call predators of patriotism. When they are in office, they are patriotic about Nigeria but outside of office they are not patriotic.
“If you consider the kind of hollowing out of the Nigeria state that we have experienced in the last couple of years, then you should know that we are sleepwalking. It’s almost like we’re in denial.
“I do not think that the most important thing for Nigerians to be talking about is the 2027 elections at this point.
“Elections after elections in Nigeria there is a complete collapse of human dignity. It’s like we have zeroed out on the value of life, and yet we continue to think that if we just keep having elections, we will be fine.
“And I am challenging and saying that Nigerians should at least start voting for themselves,” she said.
Ezekwesili’s comments come amid growing public discussions about Nigeria’s political direction ahead of the 2027 elections, with debates increasingly centred on governance, accountability, citizens’ welfare and the performance of political leadership.
She maintained that the immediate priority should be confronting the country’s present realities rather than assuming that another electoral cycle alone would resolve its longstanding challenges.
