April 30, (THEWILL) – Right now, all the talk in Nigeria’s political arena is about the 2027 elections—still two years away. The speculation is whether President Bola Tinubu will win a second term or if a coalition, perhaps fronted by Peter Obi or Atiku Abubakar, will unseat him.
But while the political elite is fixated on the next elections, the present reality tells a different story. What Tinubu was supposedly elected to accomplish in his first term remains largely untouched. Instead, we’ve seen the familiar script—blame games, complaints about empty treasuries, intra-party squabbles, and foreign trips—while the country burns, figuratively and sometimes literally.
Like Emperor Nero fiddling while Rome burned, our leaders appear detached from the people’s suffering. Politicians in Nigeria seem to forget, too quickly, why they were voted into office: to serve the people—not to enrich themselves, chase fame, or turn a blind eye to insecurity and hardship.
The average Nigerian politician is a perfect embodiment of “anywhere belle face.” Self-serving, without morals, principles, or integrity. Party loyalty is non-existent—once the money is right, defections are swift. This explains the steady stream of politicians trooping into the ruling All Progressives Congress, risking the creation of a one-party state.
History has shown us that one-party states rarely work. They breed corruption, inefficiency, and cronyism. The former Soviet Union crumbled because party elites prioritized luxury over governance. The same thing is gradually happening in Nigeria.
The average Nigerian today is battling unbearable living costs. How much is a ‘congo’ of rice or garri? A tray of eggs? What about the cost of fueling a car—or electricity bills that come without actual power supply? And then there’s insecurity. Who’s to say you won’t be robbed, kidnapped, or killed tomorrow? This is daily life for millions, while politicians enjoy fortified mansions, fresh food flown in weekly, and armed security—all in complete detachment from the people.
There’s been no improvement—only steady decline. Yet, the politicians are already scheming and plotting how to get (re)elected in 2027. With PR experts, catchy slogans, and baskets of empty promises, they campaign, not to serve, but to retain power. In a functioning democracy, good performance should guarantee re-election. If you’ve done your job well, the people will vote you back in—no gimmicks needed.
Think about it: if you’re employed in a company, your performance is regularly assessed. Miss your targets, and you’re out. Why can’t the same apply to politicians? If you don’t deliver, you should be shown the door at the next election. But instead, we watch a tragic cycle: the same suffering masses, battered by poverty, joblessness, and insecurity, still line up to vote for politicians who did nothing for them—and whose predecessors also did nothing. Should I keep going backward?
As the Chinese saying goes, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Nigeria’s problems, as overwhelming as they are, can begin to ease if leaders put selfishness aside and take that first step—start with the cost of living. A hungry man is an angry man. Make basic needs like food, fuel, and power affordable. Empty campaign promises won’t feed the hungry. They only fuel frustration.
And the people themselves must take some responsibility. Why vote in someone who did nothing for four years—and then vote him in again? It defies logic.
So, while the politicians bicker, scheme, and stab one another for 2027, I ask: Na 2027 we go chop? If only it were possible! Very soon, “Ebi pa wa o” (We are hungry) may well become Nigeria’s unofficial anthem—perhaps finally forcing our leaders to shift focus from politics to the people.
You can follow Tony Ogunlowo on Twitter: @Archangel641 or visit www.archangel641.blogspot.co.uk
Tony Ogunlowo
