Ubani Says Nigerian Politicians Prioritise Personal Wealth Over Public Service

Anthony Ubani, Executive Director of the Fix Politics Initiative, has criticised Nigeria’s political class, saying many office holders focus on personal enrichment instead of service to citizens.

Speaking on Tuesday during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time, Ubani said leadership in the country has moved away from the idea of servant leadership. He said public office should be about serving the people and building national institutions, not storing private wealth.

Ubani said many politicians arrive in office with little to their name but leave with visible assets spread across several locations. According to him, this pattern is now widely recognised by ordinary Nigerians and has weakened public confidence in governance.

“It’s not rocket science. The average person on the street can define what the current leadership is right about now,” he said.

He added that people who campaign on service often act differently once in power. In his view, accountability standards remain weak, and that allows abuse of office to continue without serious consequences.

“You talk about servant leadership. It means you come into power on the basis of serving the people and building the country,” Ubani said.

“Those currently in power are serving their pockets, not Nigeria. They are far too gone with corruption.”

Ubani also said the financial growth of political actors while in office raises questions that should concern both citizens and institutions. He argued that when political office becomes a route to private accumulation, the public cost is high: weaker services, slower development, and deeper distrust between citizens and government.

“They came into power without anything, some not even a bicycle, but by the time they leave office, they already have stored wealth for themselves,” he said.

His comments add to ongoing public debate over ethics in leadership, anti-corruption enforcement, and the need for stronger scrutiny of elected and appointed officials across all levels of government in Nigeria.