By Tochukwu Jimo Obi
With the burial rites of late President Muhammadu Buhari concluded, Nigeria’s political class is already shifting its attention back to familiar territory, the race for 2027.
The air is thick with renewed scheming, alliances are being formed and broken in whispers, and the focus has shifted from legacies and service to power, positions, and personal gain.
It is an unfortunate but predictable cycle. Nigerian politicians, it seems, never learn from history, not from the past, not even from death itself.
Lessons Unlearned from Abacha, Yar’Adua, and Buhari
The deaths of three former presidents, General Sani Abacha, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and now President Muhammadu Buhari, should have been sobering moments for Nigeria’s ruling class. These were powerful men who held the nation in their hands, yet death humbled them, suddenly and unceremoniously.
General Abacha died in power, without warning, at the peak of his dictatorship. President Yar’Adua, despite his gentle disposition and vision, was consumed by illness amid political controversy. And now, Buhari, who ruled Nigeria for eight years, departs after a retirement that was meant to be peaceful but was ultimately brief and surrounded by mixed legacies.
Yet, none of these events have served as cautionary tales. The message that power is fleeting, and life itself is uncertain continues to fall on deaf ears. Nigerian politicians act as though they are immortal, as though elections are guaranteed, and tomorrow is promised.
Power for Power’s Sake
Now that Buhari has been laid to rest, the masks are off. Political godfathers are returning to the drawing board. The loud calls for reform and nation-building that briefly followed his death have already quieted. Behind the scenes, familiar deals are being struck, and old rivalries are reigniting. 2027 is just two years away, and for the Nigerian politician, that is all that matters.
The people? Secondary.
The economy? An afterthought.
Security? Only if it affects their convoy routes.
Even as Nigeria bleeds from inflation, insecurity, and unemployment, the ruling class is focused on zoning formulas, endorsements, and backroom meetings. It is business as usual, a vicious cycle of politics without purpose.
Will They Even Live to See 2027?
It’s a hard but necessary question: Do these politicians ever pause to reflect on their mortality? Do they consider that, like those before them, they too might never live to see the next election?
The obsession with 2027 ignores the truth that death is no respecter of ambition or office. What legacy will they leave if their end comes suddenly? What will be remembered: the embezzled funds, the unfulfilled promises, or the countless lives wasted under their watch?
A Nation in Need of Reflection
Nigeria doesn’t lack leaders; it lacks reflection, humility, and long-term vision. The political elite has turned democracy into a deadly game of thrones, where public service has become self-service.
The burial of Buhari should have inspired a moment of national soul-searching. Instead, it has become just another news cycle, quickly replaced by the fever of political jostling.
As 2027 approaches, it is clear that the same old playbook is in use. Nigerian politicians continue to ignore the lessons of history, the inevitability of death, and the urgent need for change. But for how long can a nation keep spinning on this cycle of ambition and forgetfulness?
The question isn’t who will win in 2027, it’s who will survive to make a difference?
