The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has called for an urgent moral regeneration in Nigeria, warning that the country will remain trapped in a cycle of corruption and poor leadership if it continues to reward individuals who loot public resources with political appointments and public acclaim.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said Nigeria’s value system has been deeply eroded across all levels of society, resulting in a culture that glorifies wealth, regardless of how it is obtained.

“The entire value system of the country has been eroded,” Sanusi said. “We are a society in which material wealth, no matter how you get it, is respected and glorified. People who are known to have stolen money get rewarded with ministerial appointments. That society will continue to reproduce itself.”

Sanusi warned that Nigeria risks institutionalising corruption and greed as a national norm if society does not change its perception of success. According to him, the nation now sees looters as role models, celebrating individuals who misuse public office instead of condemning them.

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

The Emir blamed much of the current rot in governance on a generation of political leaders lacking moral grounding. He said many public officeholders were never properly raised to understand the value of service, sacrifice, and integrity.

“Many people go into the government to make money. But you don’t go into government to make money,” Sanusi said. “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.”

He further criticised leaders who define themselves not by the impact of their service, but by their accumulation of wealth measured in houses, luxury vehicles, and foreign bank accounts.

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

Beyond blaming political elites, Sanusi also placed responsibility on ordinary citizens and institutions. He argued that the country’s value system has become so distorted that society as a whole shares the blame for enabling corrupt individuals.

He emphasised that the solution lies in a collective reorientation across families, schools, religious institutions, and workplaces about what it means to be successful and honourable.

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“I think we need an entire regeneration of values. It is not about one person. The president, governors, or ministers cannot on their own change this country,” he said. “All of us citizens and leaders must take part in this process.”

Sanusi said values such as honesty, discipline, hard work, compassion, and service must be elevated above materialism. He called for a national conversation about character and ethics, warning that real development cannot happen in a society that tolerates moral decay.

The Emir also pointed to the weakening of Nigeria’s once-proud civil service as part of the fallout from the value crisis. He accused political actors of systematically destroying the system to serve personal interests, eroding its independence and professionalism.

“Politicians destroyed the civil service. We need to go back to strengthening the system and emboldening civil servants to say ‘no’ when asked by politicians to break the rules,” he said.

Sanusi lamented that once-powerful regulatory institutions have become tools for political manipulation, unable to uphold their mandates or resist corruption because of interference and fear.

“Until we restore these institutions and make public servants accountable to rules and not personalities, corruption will persist,” he warned

Reflecting on Nigeria’s history, Sanusi paid tribute to the late Head of State, General Murtala Muhammed, describing him as a symbol of integrity and purposeful leadership. He urged Nigerians to look back at such examples and demand higher standards from today’s leaders.

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“Murtala was not perfect, but he stood for something. He gave us a glimpse of what leadership should be—focused, selfless, and principled. We need to revive that spirit,” he said.

The Emir emphasised that Nigeria’s problems are not primarily about resources or policies, but about people, especially those entrusted with public responsibilities.

“The real issue is the people in power and the people who put them there. If we continue to normalise corruption and reward mediocrity, the country will never change,” he concluded.

Emir Sanusi’s comments are a sobering reflection of the deep-rooted moral and ethical crisis facing Nigeria. His call for value regeneration goes beyond politics—it’s a national wake-up call to return to principles that build enduring societies: integrity, service, and a genuine commitment to the public good.