Opinion: Taleeki has 3 Takeaways for the Week

By Comrd Usman Abdulkadir Taleeki

This week, in my column, we delve into Three of the most intriguing national topics in our dear country, moments where oxymorons unfold in real life, where the game is sometimes bigger than any newsroom can capture, and where the ink of every writer seems insufficient. In other words, these are moments when what happens in reality makes even the most seasoned journalist question their ability to describe it accurately.

Let’s start by opening the space with the issue of the Abuja landlord. Do I need to mention the name? No, I guess you all know who I am referring to. Some people call him the president’s puppet, or perhaps the only serving executive council member who claims not to be from the ruling party while protecting and worshiping the interests of the ruling party. This is significant because it highlights the paradox in Nigerian politics, where loyalty can be performative, and political independence can often be more rhetorical than real. It is one of the most devastating developments for Nigerian democracy, as it shows how governance can be manipulated by personal ambitions and the desire to maintain influence at all costs.

They say you attract what you are, and perhaps this explains why he was crowned in the Bulaba administration and allowed to parade around using his chair to fight against all his sworn enemies. This phrase underscores how his position gave him the ability to exert influence over rivals, consolidate power, and create a culture where personal vendettas overshadowed democratic principles. We have already seen how he has inflicted damage on democracy in his state, a topic I captured perfectly in my column titled “Tinubu’s Rivers Misadventure and the Death of Nigerian Federalism” on 20th September. The column outlined the systemic risks posed by unchecked egos in public office and how personal ambition can disrupt the proper functioning of democratic institutions.

As I outlined then, his ego needed to be contained; otherwise, democracy would suffer. Just as I predicted, on Tuesday, his ego led him to call a military lieutenant in Nigeria an “idiot” in front of the world. This incident is particularly telling because it demonstrates a lack of respect for the chain of command, institutional norms, and public decorum. Thanks to Lieutenant Yarima for putting him in his place. In a serious country, any man who treats a military officer this way would never hold any appointed or elected position again. Yet under Bulaba, he simply goes low and rises again to continue his ego games. This exemplifies the tolerance of impunity within certain political structures. Let’s write this down as Takeaway 1: egos unchecked can be a national hazard. In practical terms, this means that personal arrogance in leadership can have consequences that affect not only governance but national security and institutional credibility.

Takeaway 2 takes us to my elder brother’s sarcastic piece in Abuja Network’s Sarcastic Sunday, September 21, titled “How to Love Your Oppressor 101: PDP’s Sunday Sermon.” By now, you should know where I am heading: the PDP. Once the largest political party in Africa, it has today become the subject of public mockery. This decline is important to understand because it represents the weakening of structured political opposition in Nigeria, which is crucial for a healthy democracy.

As the party plans its convention, some members, influenced by cabals tied to the Bulaba administration, dragged the dying party to court, obtaining an injunction to prevent the election. A party already in decline, yet members continue to sabotage it, captured perfectly in Doka’s title, “How to Love Your Oppressor.” Some PDP governors have even openly claimed that Tinubu is their mandate in 2027. This indicates that internal party cohesion has eroded to the point that individual members prioritize personal survival or alignment with the ruling party over the party’s founding principles.

One truth is certain: there is opposition in Nigeria, but PDP is not it. Within the party, members now celebrate and not contest. This paradox illustrates the troubling state of political culture where parties meant to check power instead become accomplices or passive observers. A shame for democracy, but welcome to Nigeria, where this is how we do things. The implication here is clear: the citizenry cannot rely on traditional opposition structures to hold power to account, which limits political alternatives and accountability.

Takeaway 3 brings us out of politics and into the social arena, featuring Ned Nwoko and Regina Daniels. Ned, the perennial king of attention, seems to have turned his personal life into a public enterprise. This shows how individual actions, when amplified by wealth and social influence, can become national narratives. Regina, meanwhile, continues to smile for the cameras as if the latest rumors were just another red-carpet accessory. Together, they have created the ultimate spectator sport, where the court of public opinion never sleeps. This underscores how social media and celebrity culture have transformed personal matters into national entertainment, often overshadowing more critical issues.

Social media, of course, is having a field day. From analysts offering unsolicited marital advice to celebrities crafting poetic captions, every move is dissected, retweeted, and memed. Nigerians are no longer just following politics or the economy—they are following the “Ned and Regina show,” proving that in 2025, celebrity marriages may generate more engagement than governance itself. This development signals a shift in public attention and priorities, reflecting broader societal tendencies to prioritize entertainment over civic engagement.

One cannot help but ask: is this a marriage, a media strategy, or simply human curiosity gone viral? Whatever it is, it reminds us that in Nigeria, every palace has windows, and every window has an audience. This metaphorically captures the constant public scrutiny of influential figures, showing that no action exists in isolation from societal observation.

These are the three takeaways from my column this week. Now, let’s look forward to Mohamed Bello Doka’s next Sarcastic Sunday episode tomorrow, to laugh off the worries of the week. This final note emphasizes the value of humor as a coping mechanism in a society where absurdity often outweighs reason, reminding readers that sometimes, laughter is necessary to navigate the complexities of national life.