In a society where riches and affluence are celebrated with little or no regard to the source of such wealth, crime and vices would inevitably blossom. Such is the situation we find ourselves in Nigeria today. Gone are those days when parents monitor the finances of their children; gone are those days when there is dignity in labour. The most Nigerian youths of today are focused on ‘making it’ with the desperate attitude of ‘the end justifies the means’. The society in general is not helping matters.
Last month, Ramon Abbas, popularly called Hushpuppi was arrested by the Dubai Police authority alongside his croonies on allegation of cybercrime committed across the globe. He has long been extradited to the United States and he is currently housed in a Chicago penitentiary pending his arraignment in court. He was a lousy Instagram personality who flaunts his ill-gotten wealth on the social media. In fact, popular On Air Personality (OAP), Daddy Freeze, did a mini documentary on Hushpuppi. In the documentary, Hushpuppi boasted that his driver earned N700,000 monthly as salary.
In the same month, a 20-year-old social media influencer, Adedamola Adewale Rukayat (Ade herself) was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and arraigned in court on one-count charge of possession of fraudulent documents. The commission had earlier announced that she and four others were arrested in connection to internet fraud.
Meanwhile prior to Hushpuppi’s arrest, another Instagram sensation, Ismaila Mustapha also known as Mompha, was also arrested by the EFCC in Abuja while trying to board a plane to Dubai. He was accused by the commission of money laundering. A rough analysis of those arrested by the EFCC on allegation of cybercrimes, online fraud activities and other related crimes shows majority, if not all, as young Nigerians.
The increasing rate of the crime and the insatiable urge for affluent living without means of income is fueled unfortunately by the society. Today in Nigeria, we have crop of politicians with little or no success in private business or public service aspiring to occupy elective position just to get substantial bite of the national cake. These politicians live lives that demotivate the youth to focus on building successful career and profession.
On another hand, the influence of some today’s religious leaders about prosperity is disheartening. Rather than use the altar to preach social change which is the basis of spiritual growth, these pastors prefer to focus on prosperity and lives of affluence. The social media world also plays a huge part. The entertainment industry today is saturated with music that idolized online crime and extravagant lifestyle.
This unfortunate turn of event is negatively robbing off on the image of Nigeria in the global community. There are thousands and millions of Nigerians out there in various parts of the world doing the country proud but the shameful acts of the few speaks volume. It is however not too late to go back to the basis. It is high time we instill societal responsibility in the minds of the younger generation.
The political leaders, religious organisations and their leaders, community leaders and parents must lead by example, encourage positive endeavours, instill in them the principles of integrity of labour and inculcate moral attitude in them for us to have less of Hushpuppis.
