Why has a country so rich in promise struggled to fulfil its destiny?

In this conversation, author Dele Farotimi dissects the character of Nigeria’s political leadership and the moral crisis at the heart of the state. Drawing from his books Do Not Die in Their War and The Imperatives of the Nigerian Revolution, Farotimi argues that the tragedy of Nigeria is not merely institutional failure but a collapse of courage among those entrusted with power.

He reflects on the presidency of Goodluck Jonathan, describing him as a weak leader who failed to confront the forces holding the nation hostage. On Peter Obi, he offers a strikingly different assessment, portraying him as an uncommon figure whose appeal reflects the yearning of Nigerians for a different political culture.
Yet the most provocative claim comes when Farotimi turns to the present era under Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He suggests that the long-awaited Nigerian revolution may well be incubating in this very moment, born from the pressures, contradictions, and hardships of the current political order.

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Abibitumi Exclusive Seminar April 2026 Promo

Since its formation in 2024, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) – comprising Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso – has faced relentless attacks by Western-backed terrorists, economic isolation and sovereignty violations by Western-aligned African states, and endless slander from Western and Western-aligned media. Despite these externally-imposed challenges, its member states have continued to record economic and political wins, and the West is clearly not happy.

On April 2nd, 2026, US-based Western propaganda outlet Human Rights Watch (HRW) put out a report alleging that the Burkina Faso military had perpetrated war crimes over the last 2 years, leading to the deaths of over 1200 innocent Burkinabé citizens. The report was quickly amplified by Western media, but didn’t have quite its intended effect. It was met with immediate backlash from Africans of good conscience across the Motherland and its diaspora, as well as the Burkina Faso government itself, which pointed out the report’s dishonest methodology, its unreliable sources, and the clear nefarious motives of its authors.

In this report for the Spearhead, @okorieuche_ examines the reality behind the harrowing picture that this “report” attempts to paint of Burkina Faso, and what it means for Africa.

A nation sits on edge, its nerves stretched thin by fear, uncertainty, and questions that refuse to go away.

Chief Tola Adeniyi speaks with the weight of experience of a man who has watched Nigeria evolve through its most defining moments. His voice is critical, it is alarmed. He points to what he believes is a dangerous trajectory, accusing those in power of fueling the very insecurity that now grips the country.

From the rise of banditry to the deep fractures within the Nigerian state, he paints a picture of a system under strain. But beyond the accusations lies something penetrating, a philosophical reflection on Nigeria itself. Can a nation survive when its structure works against its own people? Can a country stand when its foundation is contested?

Tola Adeniyi is a former Editor-in-chief of the Daily Times and Tribune newspapers.

DP - Selwyn Henry
From the Album "Fast Forward"