Tinubu’s Cult of Personality: A Dangerous Obsession with Self in a Crumbling Nation

By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com

In a country battling record inflation, historic levels of insecurity, a spiraling Naira and the unchecked exodus of skilled professionals, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has chosen an odd hill to die on: HIMSELF. In less than two years in office, Nigeria’s 16th president has renamed or established no fewer than seven public institutions and infrastructures in his own name; all while STILL SERVING in office.

This is not a case of national consensus on legacy. It is not a grateful nation immortalizing a statesman posthumously. This is a living president, naming the country after himself, in real time with utter disregard for the optics, implications or precedent. It is self-glorification masquerading as patriotism.

Let’s call it what it is: a cult of personality and Nigeria is in dangerous territory.

The Self-Naming Spree: Seven Monuments of Ego
Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja
The iconic International Conference Centre (ICC), initially commissioned in 1991 by General Ibrahim Babangida for ₦240 million, was recently renovated for ₦39 billion. It now bears Tinubu’s name, despite IBB, a former military head of state, never naming it after himself. That tells you something.

Tinubu International Airport, Minna
Renamed in 2023 while the president is still alive and active in office. A move that even General Sani Abacha, Nigeria’s most authoritarian ruler, never dared attempt.

Tinubu Polytechnic, Gwarinpa
A new federal polytechnic established under his administration and promptly christened after the president. Again; by the same man still holding the pen of power.

Tinubu National Assembly Library, Abuja
A legislative initiative backed by sycophantic lawmakers to immortalize the president in a space that is supposed to serve all members of the National Assembly across party lines.

Tinubu Immigration Technology Building, Abuja
A federal digital hub developed to enhance Nigeria’s immigration processing systems is now forever linked to the president’s name.

Tinubu Barracks, Asokoro
Military facilities are traditionally named after revered generals or national heroes, often posthumously. Yet here we are, with a barracks named after a living civilian president. Not even Olusegun Obasanjo or Muhammadu Buhari, both retired generals and former heads of state, ever received that honour in their lifetimes.

Tinubu Way, Abuja (Formerly Southern Parkway)
A major thoroughfare in the capital city renamed in 2024. The timing? Conveniently mid-term. Not post-presidency. Not after national consensus. But while the president is still signing off on the budgets and appointments that keep the legislative and executive arms compliant.

No Precedent in Nigerian Democracy
Historically, Nigeria has reserved such honours for deceased leaders, post-administration recognition or exceptional statesmen whose legacy transcended political partisanship. Even Obafemi Awolowo, widely regarded as Nigeria’s most visionary leader, did not self-name roads or institutions while in office.

President Goodluck Jonathan, despite establishing 12 new universities across Nigeria, never named one after himself. Former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, known for his humility and reformist spirit, died in office and still resisted the trap of self-worship. Even Buhari, under whose administration sycophancy flourished, did not rename major national assets after himself.

What Tinubu is doing is not legacy-building; it is a narcissistic branding campaign funded by taxpayers.

A Nation in Crisis, Led by Vanity
Nigeria is in crisis. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), over 133 million Nigerians live in multidimensional poverty. The inflation rate hovers near 33% as of May 2025, with food inflation exceeding 40%, according to CBN data. Insecurity still plagues northern and central regions, and over 2,000 Nigerian doctors have migrated to the UK since 2023 alone, per the UK General Medical Council.

Instead of leading with humility and focus, Tinubu is erecting marble monuments of his name in a collapsing economy.

“Leaders who are truly loved by their people don’t name things after themselves, the people do that when they are gone.”
— Prof. Jibrin Ibrahim, Political Analyst, Centre for Democracy and Development

The Psychology of a Name
Naming is power. It immortalizes. It dominates memory and shapes perception. Tinubu’s spree of self-naming is not just about pride; it’s a calculated effort to brand Nigeria in his image, rewriting history while still holding the pen. This is not uncommon among autocrats and populists across history.

From Mobutu Sese Seko, who renamed the Democratic Republic of Congo to Zaire and named towns and airports after himself, to Ferdinand Marcos in the Philippines, who filled the nation with his family’s name, history is replete with examples of self-glorifying regimes who tried to mask repression and failure with symbolic excess.

“When a man becomes obsessed with his own name, he forgets the pain in the streets.”
— Chidi Odinkalu, Human Rights Lawyer

Where Is the National Assembly?
One must ask: where is the National Assembly? Where is the separation of powers? In theory, Nigeria practices constitutional democracy, but in practice, the legislature has become a chamber of praise-singers.

Senators who should be asking questions about the cost of renaming, the constitutional legality of branding public infrastructure with a living president’s name, and the message it sends to Nigerians are instead proposing more honorary bills.

This silence is not just shameful; it is complicity.

A Republic, Not a Kingdom
President Tinubu must be reminded: Nigeria is a republic, not a monarchy. Power resides in the people. Legacy is earned through service, not signage. If the president truly believes in posterity, let him allow future generations to decide how he is remembered and not through artificial plaques but by enduring progress.

This self-naming spree does not mask the hardship of Nigerians. It does not distract from the fuel queues, the collapsed power grid, the Naira in free-fall or the insecurity that haunts farmers and school-children alike.

Let Tinubu deliver real reform. Let him rebuild industries not just rename roads. Let him fix the education system not just rename the library. Let him be a leader for all and not just a brand for himself.

“The tragedy of African leadership is that too many men build statues of themselves in the sand while their people drown.”
— Prof. PLO Lumumba

Final Take: History Is Watching
History will remember this chapter and not kindly. President Tinubu’s self-immortalization project is an embarrassment to our democracy and a warning sign for our future. If unchecked, it could set a dangerous precedent for future leaders to elevate ego over service.

Let us be clear: this is not legacy. It is vanity. And vanity has no place in a nation gasping for breath.

The people must speak. Civil society must resist. The media must spotlight. Because if we let this slide, we’re not just enabling one man’s obsession; we are surrendering the dignity of the republic itself.

Written by George Omagbemi Sylvester
Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com

HAPPY DEMOCRACY DAY MESSAGE FROM THE AANI PRESIDENT

Dear Esteemed Members of AANI and Fellow Nigerians,

On this auspicious occasion of Democracy Day, I extend warm greetings and heartfelt congratulations to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, Commander- in -Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, all members of the National Institute (AANI) and indeed, all Nigerians, as we celebrate 26 years of uninterrupted democratic governance in our dear country, Nigeria. We salute the resilience, patriotism, and belief of Nigerians in democracy. Your steadfast support has been the bedrock of our democratic journey.

We commend the Armed Forces and other security agencies for their sacrifice and dedication as guardians of democracy, and urge them to continue protecting the lives and property of all citizens with professionalism and integrity. As we celebrate this milestone, we call on all tiers of government to rededicate themselves to the principles of democracy, accountability, good governance and the well-being of all Nigerians.

We urge our political leaders to shun divisive rhetoric and avoid heating the polity. Instead, let us all focus on providing responsive leadership and addressing our nation’s myriad of insecurity and socio-economic challenges. Let us remain united in our resolve to build a more peaceful, secure and prosperous Nigeria.

Happy Democracy Day!

Ambassador Emmanuel Obi Okafor, mni
President
Alumni Association of the National Institute
Thursday, June 12, 2025

June 12: MKO Abiola Lives On, Let’s Reclaim the True Spirit of Democracy – NNPP Southwest PRO, Kilamuwaye Badmus

As Nigeria commemorates Democracy Day on June 12, the Southwest Public Relations Officer of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Comrade Kilamuwaye Badmus Oladayo—popularly known as Bako—has reaffirmed the importance of honoring the sacrifices made by Nigeria’s true democratic heroes, especially the late Chief MKO Abiola.

Speaking in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital and hometown of the 1993 presidential election winner, Comrade Kilamuwaye described June 12 as “the real Democracy Day,” emphasizing that the struggle for democracy must continue in both words and deeds.

“True democracy is not just about elections every four years; it is about daily participation in governance, demanding accountability, and ensuring that power truly belongs to the people. That’s the task for every Nigerian, and that’s the message of June 12,” he said.

Kilamuwaye, whose political base is in Abeokuta South, Ogun State, used the occasion to rally both government officials and citizens to reflect on the meaning of democracy and to recommit themselves to building a just and equitable society.

“MKO Abiola is not just a symbol of a stolen mandate; he remains the face of a stolen future that we must reclaim. The symbol of democracy lives on through us. New Nigeria begins with me and you,” he declared.

He further called on all “Gbogbo Ómò Egba”—the sons and daughters of the Egba kingdom—alongside the people of Ogun State and Nigerians both at home and abroad to remember the legacy of Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, whose 1993 electoral victory was annulled by the military government, plunging the country into years of political instability.

“We must never forget the price MKO paid. May Allah forgive his sins and grant him Aljannah Firdaus,” he prayed.

Kilamuwaye, a longtime advocate of good governance and a vocal voice for the NNPP in the South West, stressed that democracy must evolve beyond slogans into practical reforms that reflect the people’s will—better infrastructure, social welfare, jobs, and justice.

The Merit Newspaper reports that June 12 has been officially recognized as Democracy Day in Nigeria since 2018, after President Muhammadu Buhari declared it a national holiday in honor of MKO Abiola—the presumed winner of the freest and fairest election in Nigeria’s history. Abiola, a native of Abeokuta, was arrested and imprisoned by the military regime of General Sani Abacha after declaring himself president in 1994. He died in detention in 1998 under mysterious circumstances.

Kilamuwaye said the occasion should serve as a moment of national reflection.

“Democracy is not fulfilled until every Nigerian can walk freely, eat with dignity, access education, and live without fear. That is the democracy MKO fought for,” he reiterated.

With hashtags like #HappyDemocracyDay, #NewNigeriaBeginsWithMeAndYou, and #EgbaOmoLisabi, Comrade Kilamuwaye’s message is a passionate reminder that the spirit of June 12 must not only be celebrated—it must be revived through action and unity.