“We Reward Thieves With Appointments” — Emir Sanusi Slams Culture of Corruption and Lack of Values in Nigerian Leadership

The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has decried the deep erosion of moral values in Nigerian society, especially as it relates to how public officials who misuse power are treated.

Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Sanusi expressed concern that Nigerian society continues to glorify material wealth regardless of how it is acquired — particularly by welcoming back corrupt individuals into leadership.

“A society in which material wealth, no matter how you get it, is respected, is glorified, where people who are known to have stolen money get rewarded with ministerial appointments, that society will continue to reproduce itself,”
— Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II

The former Central Bank Governor noted that corruption thrives when those who should be held accountable are instead celebrated and given more power. He lamented that there is a growing absence of shame attached to public looting.

“We don’t have a sense of disgust for people who hold public office and amass wealth; we reward them with appointments, with more public offices, and more opportunities to amass wealth, and this is what Nigeria has become.”

Sanusi also criticized the mindset of many political leaders, saying they see public office as an avenue for personal enrichment rather than public service.

“Many people go into government to make money but you don’t go into government to make money.”

He further condemned the obsession with personal riches and fame at the expense of national development and legacy-building.

“We have been ruled by people who have no values; they have no name behind them, and they have no desire to leave a name after them. These are people who define themselves by what they own; how many houses they have, how many private jets they have, how many billions they have in bank accounts. And they think that is something.”

According to Sanusi, such individuals are indifferent to how they are perceived by the public — even when viewed as criminals.

“It is not important to them that people look at them and they only see thieves, they see criminals, they see people who have taken the commonwealth. It is simply not important because for them, values do not matter.”

His remarks have reignited conversations about leadership integrity, accountability, and the urgent need to reset national values in governance.