society
Borrowed Strengths and Broken Truths: Why Nigeria’s Politics Is Built to Fail
Borrowed Strengths and Broken Truths: Why Nigeria’s Politics Is Built to Fail.
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com
A political party built on the foundation of LIES, PROPAGANDA and DECEPTION will ultimately collapse, no matter how long it survives. This is not mere CONJECTURE, it is POLITICAL-SCIENCE backed by HISTORICAL EVIDENCE and OBSERVABLE GOVERNANCE failures across Nigeria. Today, the Nigerian political landscape is plagued by insincerity, artificial alliances and power grabs driven by greed rather than nation-building. This foundation of dishonesty, coupled with a chronic addiction to embezzlement, has left Nigeria in a political and economic mess that may take generations to clean up.
A Nation in Self-Deception. Nigeria’s post-independence journey has been marked not by steady growth but by REPEATED REGRESSION. What is most disturbing is not that mistakes have been made, but that lies have been institutionalized. Every election cycle promises “CHANGE,” “HOPE,” or “RENEWED HOPE” yet what follows is DISAPPOINTMENT, DISILLUSIONMENT and DISASTER. How do you build a strong political house on the QUICKSAND of DECEIT? The ruling party’s playbook has become predictable: manipulate the masses with emotional propaganda, demonize the opposition, rig the electoral process and reward loyalists with appointments. The 2023 general elections are a clear example; marred by allegations of widespread rigging, voter suppression and compromised technology. INEC’s BVAS and IREV, hailed as revolutionary tools for electoral transparency, were either sabotaged or deliberately misused, leading even international observers like the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to criticize the credibility of the process. According to the EU report on the 2023 elections: “The elections did not ensure a level playing field, transparency and accountability. Public trust was severely damaged.”
When the very institutions meant to safeguard democracy are complicit in undermining it, collapse is only a matter of time.
Borrowed Strengths Cannot Guarantee Endurance. A party that borrows strength from coercion, manipulation, tribalism, religious bias, or military force does not stand on solid ground. You cannot build sustainable political success on the rented loyalty of sycophants or the fear of reprisals. A tree with borrowed roots will never withstand a storm. This is why the political godfatherism model is crumbling. The once-dreaded alliances are now publicly embarrassing themselves. Take the ongoing rift within the ruling APC between the so-called ‘PROGRESSIVES’ and ‘CONSERVATIVES,’ all scrambling for control of power. It reveals a party cobbled together not by shared values, but by OPPORTUNISM. Like a Frankenstein monster, the APC was stitched together in 2013 by desperate political actors whose only common denominator was a shared desire to unseat Goodluck Jonathan. Now that power has been attained, the lack of ideological foundation has left it rudderless.
Embezzlement: The National Plague. Nigeria’s Achilles’ heel is CORRUPTION especially embezzlement of public funds. From the local government level to Aso Rock, looting has become normalized. The Auditor-General’s 2023 report revealed that over ₦2.9 trillion in public funds remain unaccounted for. These are not just numbers, they are stolen hospitals, vanished schools, unpaid pensions and collapsed infrastructure.
As Nelson Mandela once said: “A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones.”
In Nigeria, those at the bottom are abandoned, while those at the top loot with impunity. Political leaders no longer serve the people. They serve their pockets, their sponsors and their future business interests. It is why campaign promises become meaningless once elections are won. The office becomes a CASH COW and appointments are auctioned, contracts inflated and state budgets turned into personal portfolios. Even the recent Tinubu-led administration’s “subsidy removal” was sold as an economic necessity, but the funds saved have not led to visible improvement in the lives of ordinary Nigerians. Instead, reports emerged that ₦10 billion was approved to install solar panels in the Aso Rock villa while the nation sits in near-total blackout. This is not governance; it is robbery under the guise of reform.
The Fallacy of ‘We Know It All’. One of Nigeria’s silent killers is arrogance, the belief by those in power that they know it all and must not be questioned. Constructive criticism is dismissed as sabotage. Civil society voices are silenced. Journalists are threatened. Activists are harassed. This toxic culture of “WE KNOW BEST” has created an echo chamber where bad policies are repeated and failed models are repackaged as new ideas. For instance, despite decades of evidence showing that Nigeria’s heavy dependence on oil exports is unsustainable, successive administrations have refused to diversify the economy meaningfully. Meanwhile, the youth population (NIGERIA’S MOST VALUABLE ASSET) remains unemployed, undereducated and underutilized.
Dr. Oby Ezekwesili once remarked: “A country that fails to invest in its human capital is planning its funeral.” And yet, education budgets remain below UNESCO’s recommended 15–20% of national budgets.
Leadership Without Vision. At the root of this national dysfunction is the absence of visionary leadership. Nigeria has been cursed with leaders who see politics as a business, not a public service. They invest heavily in campaigns, not to serve the people, but to reap the “RETURNS on INVESTMENT” once in office. There is no LONG-TERM PLANNING , no POLICY CONSISTENCY and no MEASURABLE GOALS. The National Development Plans are either ignored or hijacked by the ruling elite for personal gain. From Vision 2020 to Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) and now “Renewed Hope Agenda,” all have failed to transform Nigeria because they were never backed by SINCERITY or ACCOUNTABILITY.
In the words of Prof. PLO Lumumba: “The tragedy of Africa is that the African man is in the business of politics, not the politics of business.” And until that changes, no amount of borrowed strength will save us.
The Road Ahead: Collapse or Rebirth? The collapse of a political party built on deception is not a matter of if, but when. The warning signs are already flashing. The people are getting restless. Social media is becoming a powerful weapon against official lies. Protest movements like EndSARS are evidence that Nigerian youths are awakening to their power. However, if the political class refuses to reform, then collapse may be the only path left to clear the way for something new.
What Nigeria needs is not another messiah or recycled politician; it needs SYSTEM-WIDE CHANGE:
Electoral reforms that ensure free and fair elections.
A judiciary that is independent and incorruptible.
Political parties with clear ideologies and policies.
Education that teaches civic responsibility and critical thinking.
A culture of accountability where no one is above the law.
Until then, let us not be surprised when these parties and their artificially sustained governments implode. They were never built to last because they were never built on truth.
As Abraham Lincoln once said: “You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.”
Time is running out for political deceivers. The people are watching. The reckoning is near.
Written by George Omagbemi Sylvester
Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com
Africa International Christian Film Festival (AICFF) Announces Debut Dates in Nigeria
Abuja, Nigeria — January 27, 2026
The Africa International Christian Film Festival (AICFF) has officially announced June 3–6, 2026 as the dates for its maiden edition, scheduled to hold in Abuja, Nigeria.
AICFF, a continental platform dedicated to amplifying Christian films from Africa and around the world, while strengthening production quality, professional training, distribution, and market access for faith-based content within Africa will shapen a new narrative in Christian based films.
The festival will feature: Film screenings from Africa and the global Christian film community;
Panel discussions and industry conversations;
Professional workshops and trainings;
A Christian Film Market connecting filmmakers with distributors, broadcasters, and platforms.
Speaking on the vision behind AICFF, the Festival Convener, Ambassador Bright Wonder Obasi, noted that the festival was created to serve as a gateway for global Christian films into Africa and a launchpad for African stories to reach the world.
AICFF also invites Christian filmmakers from Africa and across the world to submit feature films, documentaries, short films, animations, and faith-inspired content that reflect biblical values, excellence in storytelling, and cultural relevance.
Obasi also assured participants that the selected films will be showcased to:
International festival partners;
Broadcasters and Christian media networks;
Distributors and streaming platforms;
Industry leaders and faith-based institutions.
With Africa’s rapidly growing Christian population and creative economy, AICFF aims to position the continent as a recognized global hub for Christian cinema.
Submissions are now open via www.filmfreeway.com/AICFFA. With the deadline set for March 31, 2026.
For More on AICFF, contact Bright Wonder Obasi
Africa International Christian Film Festival (AICFF) |[email protected]
www.gosplecinemaint.com/AICFF
Oyo @ 50: Ajadi Felicitates Govt, People, Backs Omituntun 3.0 for Sustainable Development
…Says continuity key to preserving Makinde’s legacy of peace, infrastructure growth
A chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and leading governorship aspirant in Oyo State, Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has congratulated the Oyo State Government and the people of the state on the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the creation of Oyo State, describing the milestone as a testament to resilience, unity, and progressive governance.
The Golden Jubilee celebration, which kicked off on Monday with an opening ceremony at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, is part of a week-long programme themed “Consolidating the Legacy, Navigating the Present, and Reimagining the Future.” The anniversary activities began on January 26 and will climax on February 3 with a grand gala night at the Government House, Agodi, where all 17 former governors of the state are expected to be honoured.
Speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the opening ceremony, Ajadi, an Ibadan indigene, commended the people of Oyo State for maintaining peaceful coexistence over the last five decades, noting that the state has continued to record remarkable progress in governance and infrastructure development.
He described the past 50 years as a source of pride, adding that Oyo State has witnessed unprecedented development, particularly under the current administration.
Ajadi specifically lauded Governor Seyi Makinde for what he described as significant improvements in infrastructure, especially in the area of road construction and urban traffic management across the state.
According to him, the successes recorded in traffic regulation and urban mobility in Ibadan were the result of deliberate planning and implementation under Omituntun 1.0 and Omituntun 2.0, citing the construction of modern bus terminals at Iwo Road, Challenge, and Ojoo as notable examples.
He also praised the governor for the ongoing Ibadan Circular Road Project, which he said would, upon completion, attract massive economic activities and stimulate development across the state.
While congratulating the people on the Golden Jubilee, Ajadi called for sustained support for the current development trajectory, stressing that the state must not deviate from well-structured and people-oriented programmes already in place.
“As we celebrate the Golden Anniversary of our dear state, it is important for our people to understand that we cannot afford to abandon the sound policies and development agenda of the present administration,” he said.
Ajadi further declared his commitment to building on the achievements of Governor Makinde through what he described as Omituntun 3.0, should he be given the mandate.
“I, Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, am fully determined to sustain and expand the good works of our amiable governor through Omituntun 3.0,” he stated.
He urged residents to embrace continuity ahead of the next general elections, warning against any deviation that could threaten the prevailing peace and steady development in the state.
Ajadi also expressed appreciation to traditional rulers across the state for their support and cooperation with the government, noting that their role remains vital to peace and grassroots development.
He expressed confidence that with the emergence of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja (Arusa I), the Olubadan of Ibadanland, as Chairman of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, peace and development would continue to thrive in the state.
He concluded by congratulating the government and people of Oyo State on the historic milestone, describing Oyo as the Pace Setter State with a promising future.
society
As Nigeria Struggles Under Mounting Hardship… Poet Kunle Ologundudu Hammers On The Ethos Of Progressive Governance
*As Nigeria Struggles Under Mounting Hardship… Poet Kunle Ologundudu Hammers On The Ethos Of Progressive Governance
The history of progressive politics in Yorubaland is deeply rooted in leaders who governed with conscience, clarity and commitment to the people. From Chief Obafemi Awolowo to Lateef Jakande, Bola Ige, Adekunle Ajasin, Bisi Onabanjo and Abraham Adesanya, the Afenifere tradition stood for free education, social welfare, fiscal discipline and moral leadership. These leaders built legacies anchored on human development and regional pride. Today, however, many observers argue that this heritage is being steadily erased under the present federal administration led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with Yoruba leaders increasingly sidelined and their historical contributions treated as expendable.
Under the current government, excess spending on projects many Nigerians describe as unreal and disconnected from everyday suffering has become a recurring concern. While billions are committed to luxury governance and political maintenance, ordinary citizens grapple with hunger, collapsing healthcare and rising unemployment. Hospitals are understaffed as doctors leave the country daily in search of dignity and survival abroad. The mass exodus of medical professionals is not just a statistic but a national emergency, reflecting a system that has failed to prioritise welfare, planning and human capital development. For many in the South West, it feels as though the progressive values once championed by Afenifere leaders no longer matter in the calculations of power.
Against this backdrop, the record of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as a subnational leader offers a striking contrast. His governance philosophy was rooted in proximity to the people and practical intervention. Beyond policy statements, his administration directly impacted lives at the grassroots. Through the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme, popularly known as OYES, thousands of young people were productively engaged, given stipends, work experience and dignity. Local traders, artisans and families benefited from social programmes that circulated income within communities rather than concentrating wealth at the top.
Aregbesola’s social investment approach extended to education, school feeding and community based economic stimulation. Children were kept in school, local farmers found markets for their produce and small scale vendors earned sustainable livelihoods. These interventions were not abstract theories but lived realities for citizens who felt seen and supported by government. His model demonstrated that leadership could be firm yet humane, disciplined yet compassionate, and visionary without being disconnected from the streets.
What makes the current moment troubling is not merely economic hardship but the apparent disregard for the collective memory and moral compass of Yoruba political history. The legacies of Awolowo, Jakande, Ige, Ajasin, Onabanjo and Adesanya were built on sacrifice and service, yet many feel that the present administration has shown little regard for these foundations. Yoruba leaders who once shaped national discourse now appear marginalised, while policies that deepen inequality replace those that once reduced it.
As Nigeria struggles under mounting hardship, there is an urgent need for course correction. The present administration would benefit from adopting some of Aregbesola’s people focused policies at the national level to soften the economic pain across the country. More importantly, genuine consultation with Rauf Aregbesola could help reconnect governance with the progressive ideals of Afenifere and prevent the total erosion of their legacies. Leadership that ignores its roots risks losing its soul, and Nigeria can ill afford that loss at this critical moment.
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