Criminals shouldn’t be honoured with ministerial appointments – Sanusi

Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, has taken a strong stand against the prevailing culture in Nigeria that celebrates wealth without questioning its source, calling it a dangerous erosion of national values.

Speaking during an appearance on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television monitored by Platinumpost, the former Central Bank Governor condemned the trend of glorifying corrupt individuals with public appointments and national honours.

Sanusi, known for his outspoken stance on governance and accountability, warned that a society that continues to place material wealth above integrity is bound to remain trapped in cycles of corruption and underdevelopment.

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He described the situation as a “total collapse of values,” lamenting that many Nigerians now admire individuals who have amassed questionable wealth, while honest and principled citizens are sidelined.

“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.”

Sanusi, a former banker, economist, and vocal reform advocate, warned that Nigeria’s failure to sanction corrupt officeholders while elevating them to greater positions of power creates a dangerous precedent.

This, he argued, entrenches a system in which public service is viewed as a route to personal enrichment, rather than a platform to deliver national progress.

He decried the prevailing mindset among many political actors who, he said, “go into government to make money,” rather than serve the people.

“We don’t have a sense of disgust for people who hold public office and amass wealth,” he added. “We reward them with more opportunities to continue enriching themselves.”

Sanusi also criticized what he described as the shallow motivations of many Nigerian leaders, who are more focused on personal acquisitions such as luxury homes, private jets, and large bank accounts than on building a legacy of integrity or contributing to national development.

“They define themselves by what they own… It is not important to them that people look at them and see thieves, criminals. Values do not matter to them,” he said.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s past, Sanusi made a nostalgic reference to General Murtala Muhammed, the late former military Head of State, who was known for his discipline, simplicity, and commitment to public good.

Sanusi said that 50 years after Murtala’s leadership, Nigeria needs a radical moral reset, a regeneration of values across both leadership and citizenship.

“It is not about one person. The president alone, or governors, or ministers cannot change this country. We all have a role to play,” he stated.

He also highlighted the destruction of the civil service by self-serving politicians, noting that the systemic weakening of institutions has stripped bureaucrats of the courage to uphold ethical standards.

“Politicians destroyed the civil service. We must rebuild strong institutions that empower civil servants to say ‘no’ when politicians ask them to break the rules.”

The Sanusi’s remarks echo growing public frustration with elite impunity, as citizens increasingly call for accountability, transparency, and meritocracy in public office.

Sanusi, known for his outspoken views, urged Nigerians to restore value-based leadership, where honesty, diligence, and compassion are prioritised over wealth and status.