By Damilola Omosebi
- The Unyielding Law of Cause and Effect.
The ancient principle, “What you sow, you shall reap” (Galatians 6:7), is a universal law that transcends religion, culture, and time. It simply means that every action has consequences; good or bad. In Nigeria, this law manifests in glaring ways, both politically and personally. Yet, despite its undeniable truth, many Nigerians act in bewilderment, as though exempt from this natural justice.
From corruption in governance to personal indiscipline, Nigerians often plant seeds of destruction and then wonder why the harvest is bitter. This investigative piece explores how this law plays out in Nigeria’s political landscape, personal lives, and what the way forward could be.
✓ Political Reaping: Corruption, Poor Governance, and National Decline
- The Seeds of Corruption and the Harvest of Suffering
Nigeria’s political elite have, for decades, sowed seeds of corruption, mismanagement, and impunity. The result? A nation struggling with poverty, insecurity, and infrastructural decay. - The Oil Boom That Became a Curse: In the 1970s, Nigeria struck oil wealth, but rather than invest in lasting infrastructure, leaders embezzled funds. Today, despite earning billions from oil, Nigeria borrows to fund budgets and suffers fuel scarcity in an oil-producing nation.
- Failed Promises: Politicians campaign on lofty promises; electricity, jobs, security; but once in office, they loot with abandon. The consequence? A disillusioned populace with no trust in leadership.
“A nation that does not hold its leaders accountable will forever remain in chains.” — Anonymous
- Electoral Fraud and the Cycle of Bad Leadership.
When votes are rigged, incompetent leaders emerge. When incompetent leaders rule, development stalls. Nigerians often complain about bad governance but fail to connect it to their own actions—selling votes, supporting politicians based on ethnicity rather than competence, and refusing to demand accountability. - Elections: Many hoped for change, but electoral malpractices and voter apathy led to disputed outcomes. The result? Continued stagnation.
- Local Government Corruption: Funds meant for grassroots development disappear into private pockets, leaving communities in squalor.
“If you vote for a thief because he is your brother, don’t cry when he steals your future.” — Nigerian Proverb
~ Insecurity: Reaping the Whirlwind of Neglect.
When education is underfunded, unemployment rises. When unemployment rises, crime thrives. Boko Haram, banditry, and kidnapping are direct consequences of systemic neglect.
- North-East Neglect: Decades of poor education and poverty created fertile ground for terrorism.
- South-East Unrest: Marginalization and repression fuel separatist agitations.
“They sowed the wind, and now they reap the whirlwind.” — Hosea 8:7
~ Personal Reaping: Shortcuts, Fraud, and Societal Decay.
~ The “Get Rich Quick” Mentality.
Many Nigerians despise hard work, opting for fraud (Yahoo-Yahoo), political thuggery, or rituals for wealth. But these shortcuts lead to destruction.
- Internet Fraud: Young people make quick money but end up in jail or dead.
- Examination Malpractice: Students cheat, graduate without skills, and become unemployable.
“Easy money brings easy problems.” — Warren Buffett
~ Lack of Integrity in Business
From fake drugs to substandard construction, many cut corners for profit. The result? Building collapses, poisoned products, and a loss of trust in Nigerian goods.
- 2019: The Abuja Building Collapse – Due to substandard materials, lives were lost.
- Fake Pharmaceuticals – Many die from counterfeit drugs.
“A man who makes bad products makes bad profits.” — Japanese Proverb
~ Family Breakdown and Moral Decay.
When parents neglect discipline, children grow wayward. When spouses cheat, families break. Nigeria’s moral decline is a direct result of poor personal choices.
- Rise in Divorce: Infidelity and lack of patience destroy marriages.
- Youth Delinquency: Parents chasing money leave children untrained.
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” — Proverbs 22:6
✓ The Way Out: Changing the Harvest by Changing the Seed
- Political Reformation
- Demand Accountability: Citizens must stop celebrating corrupt leaders.
- Vote Wisely: Competence over ethnicity or religious bias.
- Transparency Laws: Strengthen institutions like EFCC and ICPC.
- Personal Responsibility
- Embrace Hard Work: Reject fraud and shortcuts.
- Integrity in Business: Quality over quick profit.
- Moral Rebirth: Return to honesty, discipline, and family values.
- Collective Action
- Community Watch: Report corruption and crime.
- Education Reform: Invest in skills, not just certificates.
“The only way to change the future is to change what you do today.” — Tony Robbins
✓ The Harvest is Coming
Nigeria’s current reality is the harvest of decades of bad seeds. If we want a better future, we must plant better seeds; integrity, accountability, hard work, and justice. The law of sowing and reaping is unbreakable. The question is: What will you sow today?
“A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.” Greek Proverb
The time to act is now. The harvest is inevitable. What will Nigeria reap tomorrow? The answer lies in what we sow today.
