As Nigeria inches toward the 2027 general elections, the political environment is heating up. Coalitions are forming, opposition figures are rebranding, and the ruling party is consolidating its structures. Yet, amid all the political noise, the reality confronting millions of Nigerians is one of worsening hardship, rising insecurity, and growing frustration with leadership that appears more consumed with survival than service.
This moment demands honest reflection. The presidency of 2027 cannot be treated as just another contest of personalities, promises, and power. It must be approached as a rescue mission for a nation on the brink.
Policies Without Cushion: Nigerians Pay the Price
Since 2023, Nigerians have lived under the weight of tough policies introduced by the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration. The removal of the fuel subsidy, while economically justified on paper, immediately doubled and tripled transportation and food costs across the country. Coupled with the decision to float the naira, which led to currency volatility, the result has been a spike in inflation that has eroded purchasing power.
For the average Nigerian, the consequences are devastating:
Transportation costs have doubled in major cities, hitting workers and traders the hardest.
Businesses are struggling to cope with rising energy and importation costs, leading to layoffs and closures.
Government officials argue that these reforms are necessary for long-term stability. But the question is: stability for whom? For international investors watching from afar, or for the millions of Nigerians who can no longer afford three square meals a day? Policies must be designed not only to satisfy economic theory but to protect the people they are meant to serve.
Insecurity: A Crisis Undermining Every Reform
Even as economic policies bite, Nigerians are still battling insecurity. From Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast to banditry in the Northwest and farmer-herder clashes in the Middle Belt, insecurity has become a constant headline.
The implications are far-reaching:
Farmers are abandoning fields for fear of attacks, worsening food shortages.
Kidnapping for ransom has become a nationwide scourge, from highways to schools.
Communities displaced by violence swell the ranks of the hungry and unemployed.
No economic reform can succeed in an environment where people live in fear. Security is not just a military issue—it is the foundation of national productivity. Without peace, agriculture cannot thrive, industries cannot expand, and investors cannot commit.
Politics Over Governance: 2027 Already Overshadowing 2025
Rather than focusing squarely on today’s crises, political elites are already obsessed with 2027. President Tinubu’s allies are busy defending controversial policies and presenting him as a leader laying foundations for the future. Opposition figures like Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi are consolidating under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), promising a new direction if given the chance.
But Nigerians are wary. They have heard promises before—promises of jobs, power supply, and prosperity—yet they continue to suffer. The growing cynicism is not just toward the ruling party but toward the entire political class, which appears detached from the realities in markets, schools, and rural communities.
The presidency has become a prize for the politically powerful, rather than a responsibility to the people. Until this mindset changes, elections will remain exercises in recycling disappointment.
The State of the Nation: A Balance Sheet of Hardship
If we are to be honest, Nigeria today is not in good health. The balance sheet of governance reveals more red than black:
Economy: Inflation at historic highs, unemployment rising, and businesses closing under the weight of costs.
Agriculture: Banditry, climate change, and weak infrastructure have crippled food production, worsening hunger.
Youth: A generation with talent and energy is either trapped in joblessness or desperate to migrate abroad.
Trust in Government: Citizens feel abandoned, convinced that leaders are more concerned with power than with people.
This is not to say there are no positive developments. Infrastructure projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and oil exploration deals with TotalEnergies signal potential. But what good are highways if citizens cannot afford fuel, or oil revenues if they do not translate into improved living standards?
The 2027 Presidency: What Nigeria Truly Needs
Nigeria does not need another election defined by money, muscle, and manipulation. It needs leadership that will confront the realities that Nigerians face every day. The next president—whoever emerges—must embody three qualities above all else:
Empathy: A leader who feels the pulse of the people, who understands that governance is about easing hardship, not compounding it.
Pragmatism: Policies must be realistic and inclusive, ensuring that reforms are phased, cushioned, and supported by safety nets for the vulnerable.
Accountability: Nigerians are tired of excuses. Leaders must be answerable for promises and transparent in how resources are managed.
The presidency is not an entitlement; it is a duty. And in 2027, Nigerians must demand that duty be fulfilled.
Conclusion: A Call to Do Better
Nigeria is at a crossroads. The choices made today will shape whether the country sinks deeper into despair or rises toward its potential. The political elite must move beyond self-preservation and confront the pressing issues of hunger, insecurity, and poverty.
For citizens, the 2027 elections must not be treated as another spectacle. They must be seized as an opportunity to insist on leaders who will prioritize governance over politics, people over power, and solutions over slogans.
History will not forgive another wasted mandate. Nigerians deserve better, and 2027 must mark the beginning of a presidency that listens, that cares, and that acts in the interest of the people.
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