The Leftover Natives
The erosion of values in Nigeria is a widely observed and discussed phenomenon, yet its root causes are often oversimplified. Basic courtesies, communal belonging, and a shared social contract appear to be dissolving, replaced by a cutthroat ethos. This systemic decay is not merely an external force but a self-perpetuating cycle deeply tied to the choices of the nation’s elite and peculiar form of disengagement. In my humble opinion, I postulate that the deterioration of Nigerian values is driven by a paradox: the privileged’s escape creates a vacuum that is then filled by a new, unprincipled class, further accelerating the societal decline and prompting more departure. The initial stage of this cycle is the privileged class's retreat from the very society they inhabit. Overwhelmed by the country's failings, this group, comprised of the elite and top-tier middle class, begins to actively curate a Euro-Americancentric existence for their children. Through carefully selected scho...