I have indeed discovered that the Northern elite (the educated and politically conscious class) are disappointed with President Tinubu. Why is that so? They feel that they are left out of the action for the most part.
But why are they left out?
That is because Tinubu subscribes to the idea of running government for the benefit of his ethnic and political bloc. He appears to believe that Buhari operated with the same philosophy and that his own camp endured it quietly while waiting patiently for their own turn at power. Now, he expects the Northern elite to do the same.
I do not see the sense in this “turn-by-turn” prebendal politics. From Buhari to Tinubu, it has become clearer than ever that this approach is one of the fastest ways to destroy a nation. It benefits less than 10% of the population — the political elite — while the remaining 90% continue to sink deeper into hardship, division, and dehumanization.
Wisdom dictates that government, regardless of who occupies the highest office, must be fair, just, and inclusive at all times. Unfortunately, in the Nigerian context, the more incompetent a leader is, the more ethnocentric and nepotistic they tend to become.
The reason is simple.
If fairness, equity, merit, and inclusiveness became firmly entrenched in the system regardless of tribe or religion, Nigerians would naturally begin to elect leaders based on competence, vision, and character rather than ethnic calculations. That would make it much harder for incompetent politicians to rise to power.
And because of that, incompetent leaders resist such a system.
I have said it before: a Tinubu would likely never have emerged as President in a united, fair, politically stable, inclusive, and development-driven Nigeria. The political calculations that enabled his rise were driven far more by elite bargaining, regional alliances, and power negotiations than by competence or national transformation.
Until Nigeria moves away from ethnic entitlement politics and embraces genuine nation-building, every region will continue waiting for “their turn” while the country itself keeps losing.
Published by Chuks Nwachuku
