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Nigeria: The Politics of the Hunger Protest and the Wrong Move for the Government’s Attention

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Nigeria: The Politics of the Hunger Protest and the Wrong Move for the Government's Attention

Nigeria: The Politics of the Hunger Protest and the Wrong Move for the Government’s Attention

By: Dr. James Bwala

In the legendary 1955 film Rebel Without a Cause, three middle-class teenagers unexpectedly commit three separate crimes and then claim their acts were due to the fact that they were frustrated with their parental situations. In real life, a rebellion sociology definition refers to when an individual rebuffs goals and means that are accepted by a society and replaces them with goals and means that are not accepted by the society. This claim is corroborated by the definition by Robert K. Merton, which defines rebellion as when an individual replaces goals, as well as means, that are accepted by their society with goals, as well as means, that are not accepted by their society. He also defines rebellion as being more extreme than retreatism.

The August 1–10 announcement of a peaceful protest was like the classical film Rebel without a Cause; in this case, however, I can say, Protest without a Cause. Although the protest was tagged as ‘Hunger Protest’, with a promise of a peaceful movement, the resulting end clearly indicated that more than issues of hunger, the protest has its own agenda to achieve beyond the surface to which it was organized. Political protest is defined as a variety of methods used by individuals and groups to express dissatisfaction with the current political system, often involving mass activism outside of traditional parliamentary channels, such as demonstrations, boycotts, and civil disobedience. What the organizers said is that the protest is going to be peaceful. But what we saw from day one to day five of this protest was the sociology definition in Robert K. Morton’s words: rebellion. 

How can someone explain the sense of burning our national flag and raising the flag of another country or the military flag in democratic settings with a call for military intervention if the real reason behind the protest is hunger? 

Hunger is defined by the United Nations as periods when people experience severe food insecurity, meaning that they go for entire days without eating due to a lack of money, access to food, or other resources. However, what we saw during this period is that hunger is more complicated than empty bellies. It interconnects issues of poverty, inequality, conflict, climate change, gender discrimination, weak government and health systems, etc., all of which play a role in driving hunger. 

From the discussions arising on matters of the protest, the display and interplay of issues give a reflection of the kind of society that we are living in. A society where we have all failed to look beyond ourselves and our contributions to where we are currently living and choose to shift blame is typical of a Nigerian, who sees nothing wrong with his or her action or inaction but dares to condemn the actions of others. I have lived closer to one of the biggest internally displaced persons, the IDP camp in Maiduguri, and I got the figures of persons living at that camp standing at 38,000 in population. More than 12,000 households and that camp called “Bakassi IDP Camp” in Maiduguri gave me an understanding of the definition of hunger by the United Nations. 

I have traveled far and wide in my work as a reporter. I have visited places affected by Boko Haram conflicts and banditry, especially in the Northeast, Northwest, and Central Nigeria. I have visited a few places in the southeast and south-south parts of the country, and I have been home in the southwest part of the country for the last two decades of my journey in the journalism mines field. I have seen the results of poverty and what our protesters tagged as the lead in the 10-day protests as the days count. In all these, I have learned lessons about the resilience of our people in the face of hunger. That hunger is the issue for this protest was something far from the truth, and still, I cannot comprehend why it has to be about the Tinubu administration. This is not about the hunger protest; it is about a political interest, and this is the wrong move to get the government’s attention. 

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Many Nigerians have been brainwashed not to see anything good about the Tinubu administration but hunger and hardship in the land. They have seen nothing in the speech made by the president. They described the speech as empty because, according to them, it did not define what they had expected. Most of them speaking have held government’s offices at certain levels in their careers and have enjoyed government’s scholarship in one way or another. In their own eyes, what they have done or contributed is good enough to position them to criticize the government today. They never see their actions or inaction in the past as contributing to the mass neglect of their duties that informed and brought us to where we are today. 

I have the opportunity to speak with some high-level citizens who share their views and support for the protest. In our discussions, the list of those who supported the protest includes over 30 individuals. Some of them are friends of the president. I believe if they wanted to see the president, they could do so without stress. I do not know why they would stand so far and support or acknowledge the protest when they can easily approach the president and inform or give him advice that can move the nation forward. I could not be convinced, knowing the positions they held in the past, that their voices could not matter at this time and that only by supporting or nodding heads at the protest could they be heard. 

We all know about government: the office, authority, or function of governing. Governing: having control over or ruling over oneself. We all understand governance as the activity of governing. Accordingly, governance is a set of decisions and processes made to reflect social expectations through the management or leadership of the government (by extension, under liberal democratic ideals, the will of ‘the people’ as they rule themselves). There are many issues implicit in this set of relationships whose core revolves around the notion of citizenship, as this defines the body politic over which claims of self-rule apply. 

In the most general sense, we have the difference between a liberal democratic view that the government (state) serves citizens who have a natural claim to services as a benefit and right of citizenship on the one hand and, on the other, the counter-enlightenment view often associated with fascism: that the citizen must serve the state and has no rights other than those granted by the state. In what may be called the American model of citizenship, which, through our system of government practice, is a broadly endowed set of rights representing potential claims for benefits as defined by the state, what constitutes a valid claim by citizens is contested, and then the question of who qualifies to have claims met is debated. This offers us an opportunity to understand a number of pressing issues hotly contested: what is the proper role of government, who should have the right to make claims, how exclusionary or inclusive we should be as a society, how are rights defined and defended, to name but a few. 

It was supposed to be a peaceful protest, as the organizers have told us. But what we saw on the streets on the first of August was nothing short of rebellion. They said it was hijacked, but who hijacked it? In what I saw on the streets, strong young men who do not qualify under the definition of hunger are those on the streets. In what I saw on the streets are young men who are raising another country’s flag other than my country’s flag. What I saw on the streets were the young men who were burning my country’s flag and chanting for military intervention. I ran through the streets and talked to some people within the bracket of hunger as defined by the United Nations; they are the onlookers and those who are praying that this does not escalate to a situation where we could not have a country to call our own because some disgruntled fools are let loose on our streets for political score cards in the name of hunger protest. 

Dr. James Bwala, PhD, writes from Abuja.

Nigeria: The Politics of the Hunger Protest and the Wrong Move for the Government’s Attention

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Rhetoric of Vice President Kashim Shettima: Speaks of Courage and Shaping History in President Tinubu’s Leadership

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Vice President Kashim Shettima

Rhetoric of Vice President Kashim Shettima: Speaks of Courage and Shaping History in President Tinubu’s Leadership

By: Dr. James Bwala

Vice President Kashim Shettima’s rhetoric surrounding President Bola Tinubu’s leadership underscores a narrative of courage and historical significance. Shettima consistently portrays Tinubu as a bold and decisive leader who confronts Nigeria’s most pressing challenges head-on, particularly in economic reforms like the removal of fuel subsidies and exchange rate realignment. He constantly emphasized that Tinubu is “taking the bullets” avoided by his predecessors; Shettima situates the president as a transformative figure whose decisions are not merely administrative but foundational acts shaping Nigeria’s future governance.

Shettima’s discourse highlights the interplay between courage and legacy. He suggests that Tinubu’s willingness to make unpopular yet necessary choices reflects a leadership style committed to long-term national benefit rather than short-term approval. This framing aligns with academic understandings of political rhetoric that seek to legitimize authority through appeals to sacrifice and historical destiny. In this light, Shettima positions Tinubu not only as a current leader but as an architect of history whose actions will ease burdens for future administrations.

Vice President Kashim Shettima often employs rhetoric that celebrates President Tinubu’s courage while emphasizing his role in shaping Nigerian history. By framing difficult policy decisions as acts of bravery and rewriting past leadership failures, Shettima constructs a compelling narrative that elevates Tinubu’s presidency within the nation’s political discourse. This rhetorical strategy serves both to defend contentious reforms and inspire confidence in ongoing governmental efforts toward sustainable development. Such rhetoric not only bolsters Tinubu’s image as a valiant leader but also sets the stage for a narrative where current sacrifices are deemed necessary investments for the nation’s prosperous future. 

This narrative not only fortifies Tinubu’s legacy but also seeks to galvanize public support for current and future reforms by framing them as essential steps toward a more resilient and prosperous Nigeria. By portraying Tinubu as a leader who tackles challenges head-on, Shettima not only seeks to enhance public trust but also attempts to foster a collective sense of purpose and resilience among Nigerians. 

Framing Tinubu’s leadership as a courageous endeavor that confronts and overcomes obstacles head-on, Shettima not only reinforces a narrative of resilience but also positions Nigeria on a trajectory toward transformative growth and stability. This portrayal of Tinubu as a transformative figure is further reinforced by Shettima’s framing of his leadership decisions as not merely necessary responses to immediate crises but as strategic moves designed to secure Nigeria’s long-term prosperity and stability. Drawing on the historical context and illustrating Tinubu’s actions as pivotal moments of courage, Shettima underscores the idea that these strategic choices are not just about immediate gains but about crafting a legacy that future generations will look back on with respect and gratitude. 

In this light, Shettima’s rhetoric not only elevates Tinubu’s actions as emblematic of courageous leadership but also aims to cement his legacy as a pivotal figure in Nigeria’s history. While emphasizing these transformative policies, Shettima not only paints a picture of Tinubu’s bravery in addressing Nigeria’s pressing issues but also frames these actions as essential steps in the nation’s journey towards sustainable development. His rhetoric consistently underscores the notion that Tinubu’s leadership is not only about immediate gains but also about ensuring a more resilient and prosperous future for Nigeria. 

Vice President Kashim Shettima’s rhetoric underscores this vision, portraying President Tinubu as a leader who is unafraid to confront the nation’s most pressing challenges head-on, thereby setting a precedent for future governance. By highlighting Tinubu’s willingness to make the difficult decisions that previous administrations had sidestepped, Shettima positions him as a trailblazer in Nigerian politics, not just as a leader of his time but as a transformative figure whose decisions echo through the annals of history. His speeches, often delivered with a fervor that matches the gravity of the challenges at hand, serve to rally both the government and citizens around a shared vision of progress and resilience. His words resonate with a sense of urgency and responsibility, suggesting that the bold initiatives undertaken by Tinubu are not merely political maneuvers but foundational shifts designed to safeguard the nation’s future. 

His rhetoric, therefore, not only celebrates Tinubu’s decisive actions but also frames them as pivotal moments in Nigeria’s political narrative, reinforcing the idea that true leadership is defined by the courage to act when others hesitate. Such rhetoric not only aims to inspire confidence in current governmental strategies but also to cultivate a legacy of courageous leadership that future generations can emulate. His articulation of these themes is bolstered by the tangible outcomes of Tinubu’s policies, which have already begun to reshape the economic landscape, demonstrating the real-world impact of courageous governance. 

As Shettima eloquently underscores, Tinubu’s leadership is not just about immediate gains but about laying the groundwork for a sustainable and prosperous future. In this context, Shettima’s rhetoric serves as both a testament to and a catalyst for the transformative impact of Tinubu’s leadership, illustrating how bold decisions today can redefine tomorrow’s possibilities. His consistent emphasis on the necessity of these decisions, particularly the removal of fuel subsidies and the stabilization of the forex market, underscores a commitment to long-term national interests over short-term political gains. 

Indeed, confronting these entrenched challenges head-on, Shettima argues, Tinubu is not only rewriting history but also providing a blueprint for future governance that prioritizes resilience and adaptability. His rhetoric, therefore, not only celebrates the present administration’s accomplishments but also serves as a clarion call for future leaders to embrace similarly bold and forward-thinking approaches.

* James Bwala, PhD, writes from Abuja.

Rhetoric of Vice President Kashim Shettima: Speaks of Courage and Shaping History in President Tinubu’s Leadership

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Shettima Welcomes Akwa Ibom Governor to APC, Says Tinubu Is a Bridge-Builder

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Shettima Welcomes Akwa Ibom Governor to APC, Says Tinubu Is a Bridge-Builder

Vice President Kashim Shettima has assured Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno that his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) is a decision he will never regret.

Speaking on Saturday in Uyo during a grand reception held at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Shettima said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu personally sent a message to the governor, assuring him that the APC would be home to him and his supporters.

“This party is your home. You will not be humiliated. You will not be forsaken,” Shettima declared. “Mr. President asked me to assure you personally—no one will question your place here.”

Describing Tinubu as a “bridge-builder” and “deep-rooted democrat,” the Vice President praised the president’s enduring commitment to democratic values, recalling how he stood firm during challenging political periods in Nigeria’s history.

“Few figures in our national history have given as much and demanded so little in return,” Shettima said, referencing Tinubu’s past political sacrifices.

The Vice President noted that the APC is not a party driven by media hype but by vision, merit, and loyalty. “We are not just a political platform; we are a movement,” he added.

In his remarks, Governor Umo Eno said he joined the APC to align with the Tinubu-led administration’s “Renewed Hope” agenda and fast-track the realization of key infrastructural projects, including the long-delayed Deep Sea Port in Akwa Ibom.

“My progressive state movement is predicated on enlightened state interest—to support Mr. President’s bold and audacious reforms,” the governor said.

APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, welcomed the governor and his supporters, hailing the massive turnout as a demonstration of public trust in the APC.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio emphasized the significance of the governor’s defection, describing it not as just a political move but as a full-fledged “movement.” He assured Akwa Ibom citizens of the federal government’s support for development projects in the state.

Other notable speakers included Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodimma, who commended Governor Eno’s decision, and Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu, who declared the South-South zone’s full alignment with the federal government.

The event climaxed with the presentation of the APC flag and broom to Governor Eno, symbolizing his official welcome into the party and reaffirming the APC’s stance as a vehicle of national progress.

Shettima Welcomes Akwa Ibom Governor to APC, Says Tinubu Is a Bridge-Builder

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Politics

2027: The frontline formation of the Nigeria Coalition Alliance Against Tinubu and Kashim Shettima was built on weak concrete

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2027: The frontline formation of the Nigeria Coalition Alliance Against Tinubu and Kashim Shettima was built on weak concrete.

2027: The frontline formation of the Nigeria Coalition Alliance Against Tinubu and Kashim Shettima was built on weak concrete

Dr. James Bwala

The 2027 formation of the Nigeria Coalition Alliance against the Tinubu-Shettima ticket marks a significant moment in Nigerian political history. This coalition, led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former governor of Rivers and Minister Rotimi Ameachi, former governor of Osun State and Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola, former Senate President David Mark, former governor of Anambra State and Labour Party presidential candidate Mr. Peter Obi, and former governor of Kaduna State Malam Nasiru El-rufai, remains ambitious in its aim to challenge the prevailing political dominance under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima. However, the coalition is fundamentally built on weak concrete, characterized by fragile alliances and ideological inconsistencies. 

The diverse nature of the coalition members, drawn from various ethnic and political backgrounds, undermines its unity and coherence. Without a shared vision or strong institutional framework, sustaining such an alliance becomes precarious. The coalition’s strategy appears reactionary rather than visionary, focusing primarily on opposition rather than offering a compelling alternative policy agenda. This reactive posture diminishes its credibility among voters seeking substantive governance solutions. Additionally, internal power struggles and a lack of clear leadership threaten to fragment the alliance before it can effectively mobilize support. While the Nigeria Coalition Alliance represents a critical attempt to reshape political dynamics in 2027, its weak foundations cast doubt on its potential for lasting impact against established figures like Tinubu and Shettima. The coalition’s inability to effectively address these internal challenges may ultimately lead to its unraveling, leaving the political landscape unchanged and allowing the status quo to persist without meaningful opposition. 

To strengthen its position, the alliance must urgently address these structural weaknesses by fostering genuine collaboration and articulating a cohesive vision that resonates with the electorate. Only then can it hope to transform from a fragile assemblage into a formidable political force capable of challenging the entrenched power structures. Moreover, building trust among the coalition’s diverse factions is essential to overcoming the entrenched skepticism that currently hinders its progress. This trust-building effort requires transparent communication and shared decision-making processes that empower all coalition members, ensuring that their voices are heard and valued.

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The leadership from each geopolitical zone or region has a debt to pay with the electorates following their lack of engagement with the grassroots until now and for the same selfish ambitions that have grounded them politically in the zone they each represent. However, when the dues are fully paid, engaging with grassroots movements and civil society organizations can provide the alliance with a broader base of support and legitimacy, helping to bridge the gap between political elites and ordinary citizens. 

Prioritizing these strategies, the Nigeria Coalition Alliance can reinforce its foundation and better position itself to challenge the status quo in the upcoming elections. However, it lacks the immediate and decisive action to implement these strategies, and without these, the alliance risks remaining a mere footnote in Nigeria’s political history rather than a transformative force for change. Do we see them trying to avoid this fate? A BIG “NO.” The pace at which the Tinubu and Kashim Shettima unveiling purposes in leadership is taking its ground across these political zones defines the coalition. If they are to make impacts, they must act swiftly to address internal divisions and present a unified front that can inspire confidence and rally widespread support across the nation. This requires cultivating a culture of inclusivity and collaboration, where diverse perspectives are not only welcomed but actively sought out to strengthen the coalition’s resolve and purpose. But this too did not seem to be in place, and they unfolded and fell over themselves in this wild drunkenness.

The coalition must establish clear and transparent communication channels to build trust among its members and the broader electorate. It is imperative that the alliance prioritize the development of a coherent policy agenda that resonates with the aspirations and needs of the Nigerian populace. By doing so, the coalition can effectively counteract any attempts by Tinubu and Shettima to undermine its unity and objectives. But these too are lacking in their formation, leaving the old gaps that continued to exist within the political opposition Nigeria has had to make do with since independence.

Additionally, fostering inclusivity and ensuring that all voices within the coalition are heard will be crucial in maintaining solidarity and preventing internal divisions. This will require a concerted effort to establish transparent communication channels and equitable decision-making processes that reflect the diverse interests of its members. This lack of cohesion has led to internal disagreements, weakening the alliance’s ability to present a united front against Tinubu and Shettima. To overcome these challenges, the coalition must engage in strategic planning sessions that focus on identifying common goals and crafting a shared vision for Nigeria’s future. Only by addressing these foundational weaknesses can the coalition hope to transform its fragile framework into a robust and enduring force capable of challenging the entrenched political dynamics.

Politics is not about throwing stones at leaders; the coalition lacks the right investment in grassroots mobilization to galvanize public support and increase its influence across different regions of Nigeria. Strengthening its grassroots presence will not only broaden the coalition’s outreach but also empower local communities to actively participate in shaping the political landscape. By prioritizing grassroots engagement, the coalition can tap into the collective power of the populace, ensuring that its platform is both representative and responsive to the everyday realities faced by Nigerians. 

This grassroots strategy will also serve to build trust and legitimacy, crucial elements for sustaining momentum and countering the entrenched power structures that Tinubu and Shettima represent. However, without addressing the internal power struggles and fostering a culture of inclusivity and mutual respect among its leaders, the coalition risks perpetuating the very divisions it seeks to dismantle. To this end, fostering open communication and transparency within the coalition’s leadership will be essential in mitigating conflicts and unifying its diverse factions. Building a cohesive leadership team that is committed to these principles will be paramount in maintaining unity and focus as the coalition navigates the complex political terrain ahead. 

James Bwala, PhD, writes from Abuja.

2027: The frontline formation of the Nigeria Coalition Alliance Against Tinubu and Kashim Shettima was built on weak concrete

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