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Foremost educationist, Afe Babalola, expressed his concerns about the state of politics in Nigeria, stating that it has transformed into the most profitable enterprise in the country.
The legal luminary made these remarks during the 11th convocation ceremony of Afe Babalola University on Saturday, October 21.
He shared an illustrative story: “I served as the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, and there was a young man who graduated with first-class honors in Chemistry, achieving the highest score that year. I offered him a scholarship to pursue his master’s degree, and he gladly accepted. He completed his master’s studies, and I had almost forgotten about him until he returned to express his gratitude for the scholarship. I encouraged him to continue with a Ph.D., but he declined, and I inquired why.”
Babalola continued, “He explained that his childhood friend, who never attended a university, was now the chairman of the local government in our area, owning a car and a house. I was disheartened. I asked, ‘What do you intend to do now?’ He replied, ‘I want to go into politics.’ My heart ached. This is the image Nigeria has crafted for itself – where the most lucrative pursuit is politics.”
He went on to emphasize that while he doesn’t discourage political aspirations, he firmly believes that politics has deviated from its ethical roots, becoming more focused on personal gain than serving the public interest.
Babalola remarked, “I don’t intend to dissuade anyone from pursuing a political career, but the current state of politics is far removed from its true purpose. People now perceive politics as a means to amass wealth rather than a medium for public service. In my role as Chancellor and Pro-Chancellor, I never profited a dime because I viewed it as a service. Regrettably, individuals are now engaging in politics solely for financial gain, misusing public funds.”
Afe Babalola’s words serve as a stark reminder of the need to reorient the political landscape in Nigeria towards its original purpose of serving the greater good, rather than personal enrichment.
