Politics
Power to Poison: How Toxic Politics Is Destroying Nigeria’s Democracy and Future
Power to Poison: How Toxic Politics Is Destroying Nigeria’s Democracy and Future
By George Omagbemi Sylvester
Nigeria’s political landscape in 2025 is best described as a battlefield of corruption, impunity, and institutional decay. Toxic politics has infested all arms of government—from the executive to the legislature and the judiciary—crippling national development and eroding public trust. Power is no longer a tool for service; it has become a weapon for suppression, self-enrichment, and systemic injustice. As the nation grapples with economic stagnation and widespread insecurity, the conduct of its political elite continues to alienate the populace and entrench hopelessness.
Executive Overreach: A Democracy Under Siege
In March 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu stunned the nation by declaring a state of emergency in Rivers State, Nigeria’s oil-producing heartland. The federal government suspended the duly elected governor, deputy governor, and all members of the state assembly, citing uncontained pipeline vandalism and militant activities. In their place, a retired vice admiral was appointed to oversee the state’s affairs for six months.
This executive action, seen by many as a constitutional overreach, drew swift condemnation from legal experts, civil society, and opposition leaders. The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) described the act as “a dangerous usurpation of democratic authority and a slide toward authoritarianism.” Legal analysts warned that allowing the president to unilaterally suspend elected officials under vague security pretenses sets a terrifying precedent—one where democracy can be dismantled on a whim.
The international community, including the African Union and ECOWAS, expressed concern over the erosion of Nigeria’s federal structure. While Tinubu’s administration defended its move as necessary to restore order, many see it as a political maneuver to neutralize dissent in a state known for opposition leanings.
The Rot in the Legislature: Corruption, Sexism, and Retribution
Toxicity in the legislative arm was on full display when Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment and political intimidation. Rather than addressing the serious allegations, the Senate retaliated by suspending her for six months over unrelated claims of “disruptive behavior.” The timing of the suspension raised widespread suspicion, and critics described it as a blatant abuse of parliamentary power.
The suspension ignited protests across the country under the slogan “We Are All Natasha.” Women’s groups and human rights organizations condemned the Senate’s action as misogynistic and retaliatory, exposing the entrenched patriarchy within Nigeria’s highest lawmaking body. Despite boasting over 100 senators, only about 8% are women, a glaring statistic that reflects the systemic barriers to female political participation.
Meanwhile, numerous legislators continue to face allegations of budget padding, contract inflation, and illegal constituency project allocations—yet few have been held accountable. The legislature has become a sanctuary for corrupt elites, shielded by procedural immunity and partisan loyalty.
Judiciary on Trial: Corruption, Compromise, and Complicity
The judiciary, theoretically the last hope of the common man, has not been spared. In 2024, the National Judicial Council (NJC) sanctioned multiple judges—two were compulsorily retired for falsifying their ages, and two others suspended for bribery-related offenses. But these internal corrective measures have failed to cleanse the judiciary of its deep-seated corruption.
A damning report by the National Bureau of Statistics in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in late 2024 ranked the judiciary as Nigeria’s most corrupt institution. Judges were found to be the highest recipients of bribes, surpassing police officers and tax officials.
This perception is damaging not just for the judiciary but for the rule of law itself. Lengthy trial procedures, endless adjournments, and politically influenced verdicts have become the norm. In several high-profile corruption cases, suspects walked free due to “lack of evidence,” despite overwhelming public documentation and media investigations.
The Patience Jonathan Saga: Power, Privilege, and Injustice
In a disturbing episode that underscores Nigeria’s elite impunity, former First Lady Patience Jonathan reportedly had several of her aides imprisoned for six years over allegations of stealing her jewelry—items that, according to investigative reports, were themselves acquired from looted public funds.
These aides, held without fair trial or substantive evidence, were denied basic legal rights. It was only after a protracted legal battle and pressure from human rights organizations that the truth began to emerge: not only were the allegations fabricated, but the items in question were part of illicitly acquired assets linked to public funds looted during her husband’s administration.
This saga is not just a tale of personal vendetta—it is a chilling reminder of how power in Nigeria is often weaponized against the powerless. The victims were collateral damage in a broader culture of impunity, where the elite operate above the law while ordinary citizens suffer the consequences of their greed and abuse.
Economic Cost of Corruption: A Nation Bleeding
Nigeria’s economic woes are inseparable from its political corruption. The Anti-Corruption Agencies of Nigeria estimate that over $18 billion is lost annually to graft and financial crimes—an amount equivalent to nearly 4% of Nigeria’s GDP in 2022. The impact is felt across every sector: failing hospitals, underfunded schools, collapsed infrastructure, and rising poverty.
Notable scandals like the Malabu Oil deal, the $2.1 billion arms deal under former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki, and Diezani Alison-Madueke’s luxury asset seizures in the UK and US have become symbols of elite plunder. In 2025, the U.S. repatriated $52.88 million in assets linked to Alison-Madueke, including high-end real estate and a luxury yacht. While such recoveries are welcome, they are mere drops in an ocean of stolen wealth.
Anti-Corruption Battles: Justice or Just Optics?
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) boasts over 1,000 convictions, but critics argue that many are token victories. The agency is frequently accused of being a political tool—swift to prosecute opposition figures but slow to act against allies of the ruling party.
Institutional weaknesses plague anti-corruption efforts. The EFCC and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) are underfunded, politically manipulated, and struggle with outdated laws. Most corruption trials stretch for years, with wealthy defendants exploiting legal loopholes and endless adjournments.
The Way Forward: Reforms or Ruin
To break the cycle of toxic politics, Nigeria must pursue deep institutional reforms. These include:
Judicial Independence: Secure tenure and adequate funding for judges, alongside digital case management systems to prevent manipulation and delay.
Legislative Accountability: Open parliament sessions, public access to legislative votes, and stringent asset declarations.
Executive Restraint: Clear constitutional limits on presidential powers, with stronger checks from state governments and civil society.
Civic Engagement: Mass civic education and support for independent media to foster public awareness and accountability.
International Partnerships: Continued collaboration with global agencies for asset tracking, prosecution, and repatriation.
Nigeria can draw lessons from countries like Botswana and Rwanda, which have significantly reduced corruption through technology-driven governance, transparent budgeting, and rigorous law enforcement.
A Nation at the Crossroads
Nigeria’s political class has turned public office into a theatre of toxic ambition and moral bankruptcy. The executive abuses power, the legislature is riddled with corruption, and the judiciary is compromised. This triad of dysfunction not only sabotages national progress but endangers the very fabric of the democratic state.
Only a united citizenry, armed with truth, vigilance, and civic action, can reclaim Nigeria from the grip of political decay. The time to act is now—before the last remnants of justice, equity, and accountability are completely extinguished.
Primate ELIJAH AYODELE: The Seer, And the Country That Listens
By Femi Oyewale
Ejigbo, Lagos — When Primate Babatunde Elijah Ayodele steps onto the pulpit of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church each week, he does more than preach: he convenes a national conversation. For decades, the clergy has issued blunt, often headline-grabbing prophecies about presidents, markets, and disasters — pronouncements that are dutifully copied, debated, and digested across Nigerian newsrooms, social media, and political corridors.
Primate Ayodele is best known for two things: the regular release of New Year’s and seasonal “warnings to the nation,” and a large, loyal following that amplifies those warnings into national discourse. He publishes annual prophecy booklets, holds prayer mountain conventions where journalists are invited, and maintains active social media channels that spread his messages quickly beyond his church gates. In July 2025, he launched a compendium of his prophecies titled “Warnings to the Nations,” an event covered by national outlets, which Ayodele used to restate concerns about security, governance, and international affairs.
Ayodele’s prophecies have touched on lightning-rod topics: election outcomes, the health or fate of public figures, infrastructure failures, and international crises. Nigerian and regional press have repeatedly published lists of his “fulfilled” predictions — from political upsets to tragic accidents — and his followers point to these as proof of his accuracy. Media roundups in recent years credited him with dozens of prophecies he argued had been realised in 2023 and 2024, and his annual prophetic rollouts continue to attract wide attention.
Impact beyond prediction: politics, policy, and public mood
The practical effect of Ayodele’s ministry is not limited to whether a prophecy comes to pass. In Nigeria’s politicised and religiously engaged public sphere, a prominent seer can:
• Move conversations in electoral seasons; politicians, commentators, and voters listen when he names likely winners or warns about risks to candidates, and his claims sometimes become part of campaign narratives.
• Shape popular expectations — warnings about economic hardship, insecurity, ty or public health influence how congregations and communities prepare and react.
• Exert soft pressure on leaders — high-profile admonitions directed at governors or ministers often prompt responses from the accused or their allies, creating a feedback loop between pulpit pronouncements and political actors.
Philanthropy and institution building
Ayodele’s public profile extends into philanthropy and church development. He runs INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church from Oke-Afa, Lagos, and his ministry periodically organises humanitarian outreach, scholarships, and hospital visits — activities he frames as evidence that prophetic ministry must be accompanied by concrete acts of charity. Church events such as extended “17-day appreciation” outreaches and scholarship programmes have been widely reported and help cement his appeal among congregants who value spiritual counsel paired with material support.
What makes him unique
Several features set Ayodele apart from other public religious figures in Nigeria:
1. Productivity and documentation. He releases extensive, numbered lists of prophecies and compiles them into booklets — a tactic that makes his predictions easy to track (and for supporters to tally as “fulfilled”).
2. A blend of national and international focus. His pronouncements frequently move beyond parochial concerns to name international actors and events, which broadens his media footprint.
3. Media-savvy presentation. From staged press events to active social accounts, Ayodele understands how to turn a prophecy into a viral story that will be picked up by blogs, newspapers, and TV.
The public verdict: faith, influence, and skepticism
To millions of Nigerians — and to his core following — Primate Ayodele remains a pastor-prophet whose warnings must be taken seriously. To others, he is a media personality whose relevance depends as much on spectacle and circulatory power as on supernatural insight. What is indisputable is his role in magnifying the religious dimension of national life: when he speaks, politicians, congregants, and newsrooms listen. That attention, in turn, helps determine which social and political questions become urgent in public debate.
Looking ahead
As Nigeria heads into another cycle of elections and economic challenges, Ayodele’s annual pronouncements will almost certainly return to the front pages. Whether they are read as sober warnings, political interventions, or performative theology, they will continue to shape conversations about destiny, leadership, and the kinds of risks a deeply religious nation believes it must prepare for.
Politics
BABATUNDE OLAOGUN STORMS LAUTECH; GIFTS DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION WORKABLE TOOLS
BABATUNDE OLAOGUN STORMS LAUTECH; GIFTS DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION WORKABLE TOOLS
In a remarkable display of commitment to academic excellence and community development, Hon. Babatunde Olaogun, a distinguished alumnus of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), has gifted the Department of Business Administration with state-of-the-art workable tools such as stationery items which includes several reams of A4 papers, detachable whiteboards. permanent markers, temporary markers among others things.
Olaogun also added that as part of his commitment to ensuring that students of the department enjoys first class academic infrastructure, a contemporary projector facility would be delivered to the department in no distant time courtesy of his humble self to further enhance ease during presentation of seminar and projects.
The donation ceremony was graced by eminent personalities at the department, including Prof. (Mrs) Ojokuku, Prof. Adegoroye and Dr. (Mrs.) Akanbi who warmly received Mr. Olaogun. The trio of the reverred academics thanked Mr. Olaogun for his commitment to good causes and urged him to continue doing even more good for the university, Ogbomoso in particular, Oyo State and the entire nation at large.
In their goodwill message, Prof. Ojokuku and Prof. Adegoroye also counseled Mr. Olaogun to stay focused and not be swayed by naysayers who may seek to tarnish his reputation. They further encouraged him to carry along, students of Public Administration from LAUTECH, with a view to a availing them practical skills and knowledge essential for their success in their future endeavors.
The Department of Business Administration is thrilled to receive this donation and looks forward to leveraging these tools to improve academic outcomes and produce highly skilled graduates.
Mr. Olaogun’s gesture is a shining example of the university’s alumni community’s commitment to supporting and nurturing the next generation of leaders.
OGUN VISIONARIES CONGRATULATE SENATOR YAYI ON BIRTHDAY.
A socio political group Ogun Visionaries For Yayi, has felicitated with her principal and Senator representing Ogun West at the red chamber, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi) as he celebrates his birthday.
Solomon Yayi has been described as an illustrious Ogun Son, who is ever committed to the reformation of Ogun State and Nigeria.
According to the statement by the State Director General Hon. Odunjo issued on behalf of the group thanked Senator Yayi, for his outstanding transformation of the entire Ogun West and the State in general, his people oriented law making and contributions to the development of Ogun West , the State and Nigeria in general.
The group described Senator Yayi as a thorough bred politician, an epitome of humility, a game changer and lover of the people, while urging him to sustain his contributions to humanity.
The Visionaries for Senator Yayi noted that the Senator has brought his political experience to bear on the various constituency projects spread across the state.
The Socio Political group also lauded the technocrat-turned politician for his charming and urbane disposition to the discharge of his responsibility as a law maker representing Ogun West and as Chairman, Senate Committee on appropriation.
“Senator, Chief Solomon Olamilekan Adeola has continued to blaze the trail by providing and offering leadership at various levels of governance, the maverick Senator has continued to serve his people well without relenting”.
“He has continued to provide sound and relevant legislation at different times and we thank you for always being there for us”.
Over the years, you have carved a niche for yourself by dint of hard work and discipline, maintaining a charismatic and unblemished leadership style that has endeared you to many Ogun West residents, entire State and Nigerians in general”.
“You have exhibited absolute leadership traits of a man committed to doing things differently as it is in developed and organised climes”.
“On behalf of all of us in Visionaries for Senator Yayi, we congratulate you Our dear leader, brother and friend, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola on the occasion of your 56th birth anniversary”.
“In the past 56 years, your family and indeed, your political and associates and admirers have caused to be grateful to Almighty God for having granted you a life of great accomplishments and abiding fulfillment”.
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