A former Senator representing the Ekiti Central Senatorial District, Babafemi Ojudu, has launched a scathing critique of Senator Ned Nwoko, expressing his concern over what he describes as a preference for trivial pursuits over the substantive ideals that once characterized the esteemed position of a Nigerian Senator.
In an opinion article titled “The Slow Degeneration of Decorum,” Ojudu reflects on the decline from values to valueless actions, paying tribute to notable former leaders such as Shehu Shagari, Richard Akinjide, Bola Ige, and Abraham Adesanya as exemplars of dignified public service.
Ojudu commented on this degeneration:
“We have truly degenerated in Nigeria. Can you imagine a Shehu Shagari as minister in the First Republic behaving this way? Or a Richard Akinjide in the Second? Or Chief Bola Ige in the Third?”
He lamented the loss of dignity in public life:
“Public life in Nigeria has lost its dignity. The solemnity once associated with leadership has been replaced by swagger, arrogance, and the theatre of absurdity. Once, public office demanded learning, restraint, and a sense of history. Today, it attracts jesters, hustlers, and entertainers whose only creed is self-display.”
Reflecting on the current behavior of public officials, he stated:
“We now have ministers trading insults, governors behaving like warlords, and senators turning their private lives into public spectacles. Just the other day, a sitting senator of the Federal Republic, Ned Nwoko, was on social media exchanging inanities with his young wife — a woman young enough to be his granddaughter. That embarrassing exchange, watched by millions, perfectly captures the moral and intellectual emptiness of the present political class.”
Ojudu drew comparisons to past leaders:
“Where are the days when men of gravitas occupied public space? Think of Chief J.A.O. Odebiyi, the Senator representing Egbado District of Ogun State in the Second Republic, or Chief Abraham Adesanya. Stand them beside Ned Nwoko, and you will understand how far down the slope we have rolled. While those hunted ideas, this one is hunting virgins.”
He continued by criticizing the current leadership’s performance:
“I was scandalized to see him recently, fumbling to defend Nigeria before an international audience after a controversial statement by Donald Trump. He kept fidgeting, asking for a document from an aide, and waving it meaninglessly. It was a tragic metaphor for a nation adrift.”
He concluded with a stark warning about the current state of politics:.
“The truth is that we no longer have elites — only wealthy men. The Emir of Kano was right when he observed that if you were to pick 109 people randomly from the streets to replace the current Senators, their performance would not be any worse.”
Ojudu lamented the deterioration of standards:
“Our politics has become the refuge of mediocrities. The gatekeepers of quality — our universities, professional bodies, media, and civil society — have gone to sleep, leaving the public space to charlatans. The collapse of intellectual and moral standards in leadership is now so complete that bad manners have become strength, and ignorance, a strategy.”
He warned of a concerning future:
“At this rate, it won’t be long before the bosses of road transport unions become ministers and cabinet meetings degenerate into street fights — slaps, kicks, and flying chairs! One day, the President himself may even receive a kick in the loin during a heated session.”
“Watch out — Wike might just be the one to deliver it before his cup finally runs over.”
