The Elite play politics, Nigerians pay the price

At the return of democracy in 1999, a Television vox pop captured a moment that would define the Nigerian condition for decades to come.

Asked what she expected from the incoming Olusegun Obasanjo administration, a market woman replied: “Make Obasanjo bring the economy down.” Crude, yes, but deeply accurate. What she meant was simple: let prices fall.

Twenty-six years later, the Nigerian dream remains unchanged, bread, transport, rent, food, medicine, everything must come down.

Across the country today, from the okada rider to the bricklayer, from the security guard to the taxi driver, Nigerians are united by one survival creed: they want affordable living, basic security, decent jobs, working hospitals, and good roads.

What they do not crave is the endless noise of division, tribal supremacy, or the political elite’s obsession with conspiracy theories.

And yet, that is exactly the battleground the political class drags the country to, every single time.

A Nation Drowning in Theories

Inside Ubers, in market queues, or at neighbourhood joints, Nigerians debate the insecurity choking the country.

Everyone has a theory. Everyone has a suspect. Everyone has a motive.

One Uber driver recently insisted that rising attacks were orchestrated to embarrass the government so that Donald Trump would “come to rescue Nigeria.”

As ridiculous as it sounds, it reflects a national reality: conspiracy theories flourish in the absence of trust, transparency, and competent policing.

From claims that government officials profit from insecurity…

To allegations that political actors want the nation ungovernable ahead of 2027…
To whispers that the military benefits from “perpetual war”…

Nigerians do not just fear bullets, they fear betrayal.

When Public Officials Feed the Fire

Allegations from top officials make matters worse.

Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, claimed soldiers were mysteriously withdrawn hours before a school abduction, a damning charge that still hangs unanswered.

Senator Idris Wase alleged that Boko Haram suspects somehow appeared on recruitment lists for the armed forces, only for a former defence chief to deny it.

Nigerians are left in the middle: confused, afraid, and unsure who to trust.

This is not new.

Under Jonathan, under Buhari, under Tinubu, wild accusations, counter-accusations, and political weaponisation of insecurity have persisted.

Governors accused the presidency, presidency accused the opposition, opposition accused the military, the military accused saboteurs… and the cycle continues.

The Real Cost of a Nation That Won’t Unite

Every time politicians tear the country apart with theories and propaganda, insecurity grows roots.

Every time leaders chase shadows instead of solutions, bandits gain confidence.

Every time institutions deny, deflect, or turn allegations into political football, Nigerians lose hope.

Conspiracy theories thrive because governance has gaps.

But governance must rise precisely because conspiracy theories are dangerous.

Government Must Take Responsibility

Whether insecurity is driven by sabotage, corruption, politics, or sheer criminality, Nigerians deserve protection. No theory, no matter how colourful, excuses government failure.

If there are saboteurs, expose them.
If there is corruption, end it.

If the political class is playing games, stop them.

If banditry has financiers, arrest them.

Governance is not a guessing game.
Citizens should sleep with both eyes closed, not one eye on the door and the other on the headlines.

Just like the market woman wanted the economy “to come down,” Nigerians today want insecurity to come down.
That is the leadership demand of the moment.

OTHER MATTERS

Waiting for Obi

All eyes remain on Peter Obi as the ADC gathers its political heavyweights. While he insists he is “not desperate,” questions linger: is he waiting for the perfect bargain, or keeping the door open for Atiku in a potential alliance? Nigerians are watching.

Defence to Offence

Barely weeks after retiring as defence chief, Gen. Chris Musa has been handed the defence ministry.

The contradiction is striking, but insiders say he now has the political room to implement ideas he couldn’t push as CDS. Nigeria can only hope those ideas bring results.

A Flat, Colourless Ambassadorial List

After leaving the nation without ambassadors for two years, the new list inspires no excitement.

Diplomacy requires strategic minds, not political compensation.

Sadly, Nigeria still treats foreign policy like a side hustle.

PDP’s Theatre of the Absurd

Expulsions everywhere, Turaki removes Wike, Wike removes governors. Turaki issues “expulsion certificates.”

One wonders: will they hold a televised ceremony? At this rate, entertainment value is the only thing still intact in the opposition party.

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