Those who do not understand Nigerians very well would assume that the present skyrocketing cost of things would make Nigerians cut down on their ostentatious lifestyle. But that is almost an impossibility. Rather than make them show restraint, galloping inflation would even make them flaunt their wealth so as to set themselves apart as special beings who are blessed even when others are in extreme lack.

The recent scandal involving the pastor of the City of David parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God and his wife who celebrated her 60th birthday party with pomp and circumstance shortly after the death in a helicopter crash of Herbert Wigwe, former CEO of Access Bank, and a key financier of the parish, was also a result of the same knack Nigerians have for wanting anything to stop them from displaying their “wealth.” Many people had wondered why such a party should not be postponed or scaled down because of the tragedy involving Wigwe, his wife and his son.

Last year, while Nigerians were lamenting the biting hardship caused by the speedy depreciation of the naira, members of the National Assembly were hell-bent on purchasing brand-new expensive SUVs for the 406 legislators. They rejected all entreaties to shelve the idea or buy less expensive saloon cars, insisting that they were not buying private vehicles but “operational vehicles” whose durability would translate to cost-effectiveness in the four years of their tenure.

What is fuelling Nigerians’ obsession with flamboyance and ostentation? Why do we love to flaunt wealth to the point of disgust?

This ostentatious lifestyle cuts across all sectors of the economy and cadres of Nigerians in urban and rural areas: politicians, civil servants, clergy, professionals, traders, lecturers, students, the unemployed, men, women, youths, adults, etc. Hard times cannot stop the leaders from living like kings while the masses are groaning. Even the poor don’t fail to party and show off any time some little money comes into their hands.

Modesty has become abominable in our land, even among the clergy, which used to be known for modesty, humility, simplicity and selflessness. On the contrary, the fashionable thrust of religious preaching these days is financial success and a life without problems, while the I-am-not-serving-a-poor-God lifestyle reigns among the faithful.

In the political class, it used to be against the federal government policy for a civil servant or political office holder to use an SUV as an official car. The official car in the 1980s, when the ruling political party – the National Party of Nigerians – was accused of profligacy was Peugeot 504 saloon car. Later it was upgraded to 505 saloon car, especially for some categories of senior officers. Except perhaps for the office of the head of state/president, the Mercedes Benz saloon car was not allowed as an official car, even if the holder of that office was using a Mercedes before his election or appointment, because a Mercedes was seen as a sign of opulence and ostentation.

Today, however, the regular official car for political office holders is an SUV of a special class. From that Olympian height, the officer can literally look down on the people he or she is meant to serve. This cuts across the federal, state and local government levels. An elected or appointed political officeholder is the boss of the people, not their steward. He is privileged and favoured. He has been exalted. Others pray and hope that one day their time will come when they will be like such a political officeholder. If a political officeholder uses a saloon car, it must be such whose price will put fear into the hearts of the common people.

In the corporate world, religious circles, and private circles, it is seen as demeaning for a top executive of a company, the pastor of a church (unless the church is very poor), or a well-to-do individual in private business to be using a saloon car, unless it is a top-of-the-range saloon car that is more expensive and more prestigious than most SUVs. Even regular individuals, in employment or self-employment, ensure that they have an SUV in their fleet of cars, no matter how old the SUV is. The fact that it is an SUV, which elevates him literally and figuratively above other drivers and road users, has an irresistible feel-good sensation in it.

Consequently, in the home of a regular Nigerian who does his private business or receives a salary, you will see about three or four cars: one an SUV that is used for special events like church services, weddings, parties, Christmas-New Year travels to hometowns; a saloon car like a Toyota Camry, Toyota Avalon, or a Mercedes to be alternated with the SUV once in a while; a regular car like a Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic for daily usage; and maybe another regular car for school run and other matters.

Even the unemployed and students are not left out of this show-off. Your unemployed relative who asks you for financial support uses a smartphone, which is more expensive than your phone. His shoes and shirts are more expensive than yours. Yet he needs your help. You then wonder: Who should assist the other financially?

Then there are the different types of parties (birthdays, weddings, burials, child-naming, housewarming, graduation, “freedom,” [by apprentices], thanksgiving, etc), used to make a statement of success and affluence. Many borrow money to host these parties and ensure they are memorable for the community or nation to talk about for a long time. Add to that the myriad of overseas holidays, conferences, and parties, and you get a good picture of the new Nigerian.

The danger in our ever-rising materialism and flamboyance is that it encourages crime and erodes our social values. The rise in embezzlement of public funds, bribery, drug trafficking, armed robbery, kidnapping, and online fraud is a sign that more people desperately want to get their own wealth, show it off and be seen to have “arrived.” Questions are no longer asked about the source of wealth, even within family circles or religious circles, both of which used to be the bastions of moral values. As long as the money flows, the person making it happen is celebrated and honoured for his or her “philanthropy,” and becomes a reference point. The young man who sees this every day wants also to be celebrated, respected, and honoured with titles and awards in his community – social, religious, or national. Having seen that nobody asked questions or cared about the source of wealth of the “big man”, the young man strives to make his own money by any means possible, knowing that nobody will bother to ask questions of him too.

That becomes a vicious cycle that runs ceaselessly and eats into the soul of our nation, destroying the moral fibre of the nation and making it underperform in all human indexes.

Wealth is good. Money can save lives. Money provides food, water, shelter, education, roads, and the good things of life. Without money, it is almost impossible to build anything. However, placing too much emphasis on wealth is dangerous to any society. Even many of the richest men on earth are not flamboyant or ostentatious.

Our political leaders and religious leaders have the critical task of pulling us back from this precipice with a change of focus, message, and lifestyle. We cannot continue to flaunt products made by other nations when we produce nothing. Those who make these products we flaunt don’t even flaunt them the way we do.

Let’s start flaunting our ideas, skills, self-made products, and services, as well as our contributions to nation-building rather than our private jets, cars and jewellery. That is what will advance our nation and make other nations respect us.