Opinion
Of Indiscipline And Morality In Nigeria
Acts of indiscipline seem to have become a normal phsenomenon in our everyday lives. For some people,the act of indiscipline is a sign of modernity, fashion or masculinity. Indiscipline in our world today does not reflect only in our way of dressing, but also our attitude towards life and our way of doing things. The Encarta Dictionary defines indiscipline, as the lack of practice or methods of teaching, and enforcing acceptable patterns of behaviour.
The major problem confronting our nation Nigeria, today is the general decline in the level of discipline and morality. Gone are the days when morality and discipline used to be virtures. Today it is the exact opposite. We now live in a decadent society where morality and discipline are thrown overboard. It is a pity our society which was once upright and which moral values were standard can become decadent.
Though technology and modernity can be termed as the main determinant of development in a country, discipline also counts. It must be put into consideration that it only takes discipline to rise to the heights of civilization.
Who could have thought that Egypt, in Africa, could be the first nation in the world to attain a level of civilization? Looking back at the history of Egypt, one can say emphatically that their adoption or practice or methods of teaching, and enforcing acceptable patterns of behaviour, led to their early attainment of civilisation.
In Nigeria, and many parts of Africa, acts of indiscipline have been the main incitements to the destabilization of the development of the continent. It is the desire of many Nigerians, and the people of Africa, to arrive at a level of development, to ease their pain and sufferings, just like in the developed world. However the problem is, people are not, if the truth be told, putting their shoulders to the wheel, in order to bring this dream into reality, with a part being attributed to acts of indiscipline. No wonder many Africans consider the western world a paradise, since they do not foresee their continent achieving that same level of development.
The problem is not limited to the secular aspect of our society, even the religious circle. Imagine a situation where a church pastor puts a female member of the church in the family way and calls for extravagant ceremony when she gives birth to a baby! What about a school teacher who puts his own sixteen-year old female student in the family way because of undue assistance sought by her in a promotion examination? Bank loans are not granted to customers with good intention but the bad ones whose aim is to borrow and never pay back. However, the bank managers aid and abet such cases because such loans ‘are shared’ equally between the borrowers and the managers even without any physical collateral. The managers themselves use fictitious names and documents to steal millions of Nigeria from our banks.
Today it is an open secret that the JAMB and SSCE are fought with malpractices, as university graduates write the examinations as expert mercenaries for the candidates who are born with silver spoon in their mouth. The joint matriculation examination is worse. The candidates atimes see the questions days to the examination itself. The question is who are those responsible for such examination malpractices? No doubt, it is the highly placed officials, examination supervisors and invigilators. The story is the same regarding employment. Jobs are not given to deserving and competent applicants, but to those who offer large bribes and women who can sleep with those in charge.
The reason for acts of indiscipline, cannot be attributed solely to the individual the act is coming from, but also to the environment/society the individual is coming from. Though from a tender stage one is influenced by society and the environment, parental responsibility is the major influence in one’s life, given the fact that parents have the major responsibility of nurturing the child. This is so because, to the child, the guardian or parents are the only people to be trusted. “Train a child in way he should grow and when he is old, he will never depart from it,” says a Bible verse.
Society can be partially blamed for the decline in standards of discipline, and its citizens are to be blamed and have to carry the fight against it. Moral and spiritual values have been shunned by society all in the name of modernity and technology. Society seems to have lost track of the essence of a disciplined life. Gone are the days when every elderly person could put a child or adolescent right, when he or she is going against the values of society.
This has made the youth of nowadays very undisciplined. How about this generation? Woe betides any adult who tries to put a child right. Also another general problem is poverty. A university graduate-teacher in Yobe state earns just 2,200. He is married with three children apart from large number of dependant relations. His salary alone can hardly take care of transportation and accommodation. The only way open to a poor man is to look elsewhere to make ends meet. That is why most civil servants now augment their meagre salaries with trading. At times some of the female teachers sell on credit even to their students. Tell me how such teachers will not accept bribes from their students if tempted.
Extravagant lifestyles of the rich in our society have not helped the situation either. Majority of them acquire their riches illegally, and turn around to engage in wasteful spending. That is why most school leavers or jobless adults now go into fraudulent means of gathering money.
For a nation to have a society full of disciplined and well-mannered people, it is important to start from the home. Charity they say, begins at home, the responsibility of parents or guardians does not only refer to providing the material needs of the child, but also learning how to nurture the child into a well- disciplined adult, by inculcating in the child good morals. A well-disciplined adult will not have the courage to defecate along roadsides, in the gutters or throw litter around.
The problem can also be tackled by provision of employment opportunities for all school leavers. Also, there should be mass education of the citizens through the media about the dangers inherent in indiscipline and immorality in our society. Moreover salaries and wages of public servants should be reviewed like those in the private sector. Extravagant parties, particularly, night parties should be banned outright. Our educational and religious institutions should preach moral values not acquisition of material wealth. Above all, there should be ethics and moral codes for all and those who fall short of required standard should be made to face the music.
In conclusion For a nation to develop, it depends on the attitude of the citizen towards their daily activity, the environment and their fellow men. A disciplined nation, with principled values, can assist to bring about a well-developed and civilized people. It is the duty of society and all respectable bodies/organisation and institutions to help inculcate the attitude of discipline in its people.
Tom is an intern with The Tide.
The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.
The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.
For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.
President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.
The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.
Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.
The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.
But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.
It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.
Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.
The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.
Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.
Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.
Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.
Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.
Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.
“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.
The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.
As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.
The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.
By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator
Do the Fulani herdsmen have an expansionists agenda, like their progenitor, Uthman Dan Fodio? Why are they everywhere even the remotest part of other areas in Nigeria harassing, maiming, raping and killing the owners of the land?”
In a swift reaction, The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) decried and strongly condemned the invasion by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
In his denunciation, MOSOP President Fegalo Nsuke described the incident as very unfortunate and deeply troubling, warning against a recurrence of the violence experienced in Benue State. “The killing of yesterday is bad and very unfortunate. We are getting preliminary information about how the herders gained access to the farmland, and it appears some hoodlums may be collecting money and granting access illegally.”
He called on the Hausa community in Rivers State to intervene swiftly to prevent further attacks.
“We want the Hausa community in Rivers State to take urgent action to ensure these issues are resolved”.
But will such appeal and requests end the violent disposition of the Fulani herdsmen? It is not saying something new that the escalating threat and breach of peace across the country by the Fulani herdsmen or those suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, leaves much to be desired in a country that is bedevilled by multi-dimensional challenges and hydra-headed problems.
Some upland Local Government Areas of Rivers State, such as Etche, Omuma, Emohua, Ikwerre, Oyigbo, Abua, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, have severally recounted their ordeals, as herdsmen invaded farmlands, destroyed crops, raped female farmers and killed protestant residents.
Again the wanton destruction of lives and properties which no doubt has overwhelmed the Nigerian Police, makes the clamour for State Police, indispensable. The National Assembly should consider the amendment of the Constitution to allow States to have their Statutory policing agencies.
As insurgency has risen to an all time high in the country were killings has now grown to be a normal daily activity in some part of the nation it may not be safe to say that Nigeria still practices democracy.
Several massacres coming from the Boko Haram and the herdsmen amongst all other insurgencies which have led to the destruction of homes and killing, burning of communities especially in the northern part of the country. All these put together are result of the ethnic battles that are fought between the tribes of Nigeria and this can be witnessed in Benue State where herders and farmers have been in constant clashes for ages. They have experienced nothing but casualties and unrest.
In the month of June 13-14, the Yelwata attack at the Guma Local Government Area by suspected gunmen or herdsmen who stormed the houses of innocent IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) claiming the lives of families, both adults and children estimated to be 200 victims. They were all burnt alive by these unknown gunmen.
This has been recorded as one of the deadliest insurgencies that had happened in recent years. Some security personnel that were trying to fight the unknown gunmen also lost their lives.
Prior to the Yelewata attack, two days before the happening, similar conflict took place in Makurdi on June 11, 2025. 25 people were killed in the State. Even in Plateau State and the Southern Kaduna an attack also took place in the month of June.
All other states that make up the Middle Belt have been experiencing the farmers/herders clash for years now and it has persisted up till recent times, claiming lives of families and children, homes and lands, escalating in 2025 with coordinated assaults.
Various authorities and other villagers who fled for safety also blamed the herdsmen in the State for the attack that happened in Yelwata community.
Ehebha God’stime is an Intern with The Tide.
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