
19/07/2025
Searchlight Remarks: A Nation Betrayed by Power Games: The Dangerous Desperation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
In a time when Nigeria is groaning under the weight of poverty, hunger, mass unemployment, insecurity, and failing institutions, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent appointments and symbolic gestures tell a disturbing story—not of national healing or reform, but of political desperation.
From appointing Muhammad Babangida, son of former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida, as head of the restructured Bank of Agriculture…
To naming the son of the late Prince Abubakar Audu as Minister of Steel Development…
To the renaming of the University of Maiduguri after former President Muhammadu Buhari…
A pattern is emerging—a pattern that reveals a presidency far more interested in consolidating loyalty and massaging political egos than in fixing the bleeding heart of a broken nation.
Desperate for the North’s Endorsement
Let’s not pretend: these are not random decisions. They are strategic placements and symbolic appeasements meant to buy political favour, particularly in the North. By positioning the children of Northern political godfathers in powerful roles, and immortalizing Buhari—despite his controversial legacy—through a university renaming, President Tinubu is trying to secure what he fears he might lose in 2027: political control.
Rather than earning trust through performance, he is purchasing loyalty with appointments, trading national institutions for political alliances, and recycling names from Nigeria’s past, all while the masses suffer without reprieve.
The Renaming of University of Maiduguri – A Political Insult?
Renaming a federal institution like the University of Maiduguri after Muhammadu Buhari—barely a year after leaving office—is not only premature, it reeks of political sycophancy. Buhari’s tenure was marked by deepening poverty, extreme insecurity, and economic decline. Yet, rather than interrogate that legacy, this administration seeks to enshrine it.
What message does this send to the thousands of students struggling through Nigeria’s crumbling education system? That loyalty to power is more important than legacy or merit? That symbolism matters more than substance?
Tinubu's Power Game: From Hope to Fear
President Tinubu campaigned on a promise of renewed hope. What we are now witnessing is a presidency sliding into fearful calculations, regional appeasement, and power consolidation. These actions reveal not a confident leader—but one gripped by insecurity, one who is already fighting for 2027 rather than delivering in 2025.
If these are the decisions made in a first term, what should Nigerians expect if given a second? Many fear it would unleash a ruthless era of unchecked power, political suppression, and governance by cronies and loyalists alone.
Nigeria Must Wake Up
We cannot afford to remain silent. Appointments must reflect national interest, not tribal loyalties. Federal institutions should not become reward systems for political allegiance. Universities should reflect intellectual integrity, not become tools for rewriting legacy or flattering political mentors.
Conclusion: The Nation Is Not a Playground
Nigeria is not a chessboard for elite ambitions. It is a wounded nation in need of healing, vision, and justice. We call on civil society, the media, the youth, and all lovers of democracy to rise. Power must be held accountable. Governance must return to the people. Enough of power for power’s sake.
Rev Samuel Olusegun Omowaiye
President
GMN Searchlight World Visionary Leadership Media