When It's Time to Steal, They Forget Religion but Demand Accountability, and We're Suddenly Too Different?
Isn't it wild how quickly some African leaders toss aside religion, tribe, and ethnicity when it's time to divide national resources among themselves? Suddenly, there's no north or south, no Christian or Muslim, no Yoruba, Igbo, or Hausa just one united front at the table of corruption. But when ordinary citizens dare to ask for basic rights like good roads, quality healthcare, jobs, or transparency, these same leaders pull out the age-old playbook: "We're too divided to work together."
The hypocrisy is exhausting.
Take a look at government cabinets, political alliances, and billion-naira contract approvals. You’ll see politicians who were “mortal enemies” during election season suddenly joining forces when there’s oil money, security votes, or juicy contracts involved. These alliances cut across all the ethnic and religious lines they once claimed were insurmountable.
For instance, during the allocation of oil blocks in Nigeria, it’s never about tribe it’s about access. Politicians from every corner of the country are represented when it comes to sharing the nation's wealth. But when it’s time to build critical infrastructure in the Niger Delta or explain missing billions from the national budget, those same politicians become champions of regional or religious identities, pitting one group against another to avoid accountability.
If there’s one thing many African leaders have consistently worshipped, it’s the god of corruption. This unholy trinity of greed, impunity, and manipulation unites them far more effectively than any national anthem or development agenda ever could.
Religion and ethnicity are often used as tools not for unity, but for distraction. They become convenient shields when leaders are under pressure. Want to distract from a scandal? Stir up tribal tensions. Need to shift focus from inflation, insecurity, or youth unemployment? Suddenly, it’s about defending cultural heritage or religious values.
Meanwhile, the potholes remain, the hospitals lack basic supplies, teachers go unpaid, and young people keep (Japa) fleeing the continent in search of hope elsewhere.
But here's the good news: people are not as gullible as they once were. From Lagos to Nairobi, Accra to Kigali, there's a rising tide of politically conscious youth who are asking hard questions. Social media, civic tech, and grassroots movements are helping citizens connect the dots. We’re documenting, fact-checking, and organizing. We’re calling out the lies, the recycled excuses, and the old tactics.
Take #EndSARS in Nigeria, #FixTheCountry in Ghana, or even protests in Kenya over tax policies. These aren’t just social media trends they’re proof that the younger generation is fed up with business as usual.
We’re not divided. We’re just done.
We’ve got receipts proof of mismanagement and data to back up our demands.
We’ve got resilience decades of surviving bad governance have made us tougher.
And we’ve got rhythm a culture of creativity, innovation, and community that no corrupt leader can destroy.
The old playbook of "divide and distract" is wearing thin. The people are wiser now. And while the corrupt may still hold power for the moment, the tide is turning. Africa’s greatest resource isn’t oil or gold it’s the awakened, united, and unstoppable spirit of its people.
We’re not just watching anymore. We’re participating. We’re voting. We’re organizing. And this time, we’re not backing down.
It's game over for bad governance.
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