Poverty is bad. But the fear of poverty- the main driving force of Nigeria's (pseudo)middle class- is much worse. It controls everything. Dictates morals. Defines goals. It is the reason Nigerian professionals will destroy their life's work to become an idiot politician's aide.

A Nigerian lawyer, writer, journalist, doctor, will put in decades building their profile. Then give it all up to defend a politician who they wouldn't normally even deem fit to share a beer with. They will reduce themselves. Defend the indefensible. Kiss ass. Become errand kids.

Do I blame them? They too want to drive the BMWs, send their wives abroad to have babies, send their children to schools abroad, live in decent parts of Lagos, Abuja and PH. They want to go for shopping and treatment abroad. So they will fellate politicians at home. It is Nigeria