I want to talk about house flies and maggots in the Nigerian socio-political space.
House flies are insects that undergo a metamorphosis from eggs to larvae, then to maggots before they mature into flies. They thrive in filth and decay. House flies have multiple eyes, allowing them to see from different angles. They have no shame, no respect for personal space, and no value for anything. A house fly can move from a garbage dump to a king’s table, then perch on a corpse before settling on excrement.
When I look at the Nigerian political space, I see many individuals behaving like house flies and maggots. People I once respected are decamping from one party to another, aligning themselves with those they once criticized. They have no philosophical grounding, no principles, and no loyalty—only a hunger for survival and self-interest.
Just like flies, these politicians move in swarms, making a lot of noise, balancing wherever they find decay to feed on. Nearly all the legislators elected under the Labour Party have decamped, leaving behind the very ideals they once claimed to stand for. PDP members are jumping ship in search of more opportunities to feed on political rot. It is nauseating to watch.
There are also religious house flies and maggots. When I first started in ministry, I noticed how some preachers exploit their congregations. They use faith as a tool to manipulate people, extracting money in the name of offerings, miracles, and prophetic seeds. When I realized this, I made a decision—I will not raise money for personal gain. I can fundraise for causes like Scripture Union, Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship, or school projects, but I refuse to exploit people. Because of this stance, some churches stopped inviting me, but I have no regrets. I am doing far better than many of them.
In every sector, maggots are at work. Those who sell drugs to children, ruining their minds and futures, are maggots burrowing into the nation’s fabric. Those who run hotels where young girls are exploited and trafficked are maggots eating into the morality of society. Some universities and secondary schools allow exam malpractice, bribery, and sexual exploitation in exchange for good grades. These are educational house flies and maggots, contaminating the future of our youth.
The police force is not exempt. Large sums of money have been recovered from corrupt officers, some of which was extorted from criminals or innocent civilians. The leadership of the police arrested them, but we know they are not the only ones. Some judges accept bribes to pervert justice, turning verdicts in favour of the highest bidder. Such magistrates and tribunal chairmen are judicial house flies and maggots, feeding on the rot of corruption.
Then we have the veteran decamperes—politicians who have hopped from one party to another in search of personal gain. Old men, old house flies, old maggots. They are irritating to watch, an embarrassment to the nation.
People with values and decency do not feed on trash. They do not wallow in corruption and deceit. If you are involved in election fraud, ritual killings, internet fraud, or bribery, you are a house fly and a maggot, feasting on the decay of our society.
I remain Dr. Charles Apoki.
May we build a nation free of political house flies and maggots. God bless you.
