OPINION: Coalition of Doom and Tinubu’s Deep Blue Sea
Do we choose the Coalition of Doom, a gathering of failed leaders hungry for another taste of power? Or do we stick with Tinubu’s Deep Blue Sea, where hunger, inflation, and authoritarianism now define governance?
Once again, Nigerians are trapped in a political dilemma—a calculated heist, an orchestrated havoc, and a vibrant conundrum masterminded by those who seem determined to entrench Nigeria’s eternal suffering. These are the greatest enemies of Nigeria’s progress, coercing a battered population to choose between two evils: a coalition of opportunistic, vindictive leaders, and a presidency marred by dictatorial tendencies and economic cruelty.
This so-called coalition, a gathering of political monsters, is not built on patriotism or genuine conviction. Rather, it is fueled by greed, bitterness, ego, and selfishness. These disgruntled elites seek to hijack the Tinubu tsunami—not to rescue Nigeria, but to regain access to the feeding trough they were kicked out from.
To understand this political theatre, one must decode the crocodile tears of Obi, Atiku, and El-Rufai. Had Nyesom Wike, former Rivers State governor and PDP chieftain, not been co-opted into Tinubu’s government, he would most likely be a vocal member of the anti-Tinubu alliance. But instead, Wike is preoccupied with spending ₦39 billion renovating the Abuja International Conference Centre, evicting Abuja residents from their homes, grabbing lands, and allocating expansive land to his son—while still pulling political strings as the de facto ruler of Rivers State.
Now consider El-Rufai, former Kaduna State governor, and once a vocal supporter of Buhari and Tinubu. He didn’t reject his ministerial nomination; in fact, he appeared before the National Assembly, eager to serve. But after being sidelined by the Alagbado of Agbado Kingdom—Tinubu—he turned against the system that once empowered him. His anger may be understandable, but his current activism reeks more of vendetta than patriotism. El-Rufai is not driven by a love for Nigerians, but by bitterness and bruised ego.
Then there’s Abubakar Malami, the former Attorney General of the Federation—one of the most controversial legal officers in Nigeria’s democratic history. Malami repeatedly intervened to protect allies from prosecution, dropping corruption cases involving Amaju Pinnick, Bukola Saraki, Senator Danjuma Goje, and others. His legacy is stained with allegations of obstruction of justice, misuse of public assets, political interference, and cronyism. Yet he, too, is part of the coalition seeking to “rescue” Nigeria.
And what of Atiku Abubakar? At 78, he holds the record for the most presidential bids in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic—six attempts between 1993 and 2023. Rather than mentor the next generation, he continues to chase the presidency with the desperation of a man seeking unfinished business. His behavior mirrors the path of Buhari, who manipulated sentiments to secure power, only to deliver eight wasted years.
Tinubu’s Deep Blue Sea
On the other side of this doomed equation lies President Bola Ahmed Tinubu—a tragedy in his own right. His infamous “subsidy is gone” proclamation during his May 29, 2023, inauguration speech sent shockwaves across the nation. That statement, delivered with a chilling, dictatorial undertone, ushered in a new era of untold hardship, with hopes of redirection through reinvestment in infrastructure. Yet, the opposite unfolded.
Insecurity remains rampant. Corruption thrives in new, audacious forms. Poverty has deepened. According to the World Bank’s April 2025 Africa’s Pulse report, Nigeria now has the highest number of extremely poor people globally, with poverty projected to rise by 3.6 percentage points between 2022 and 2027.
A March 2024 Reuters report confirmed that food banks in Lagos and Abuja are under strain, as inflation and cost-of-living surges have rendered many elderly Nigerians barely able to survive. Tinubu’s currency reforms, fuel subsidy removal, and absence of social protection policies have pushed millions deeper into poverty.
Meanwhile, his supporters, like Reno Omokri, who once called Tinubu “a sick old man and drug baron,” now market him as a visionary leader. This transformation speaks not of growth, but of opportunism and political self-interest.
So, What Choice Do Nigerians Have?
Do we choose the Coalition of Doom, a gathering of failed leaders hungry for another taste of power? Or do we stick with Tinubu’s Deep Blue Sea, where hunger, inflation, and authoritarianism now define governance?
Either path, as it stands, leads to ruin. The faces remain the same, their strategies unchanged: exploit, oppress, and recycle.
Now is the time for a national awakening. Nigerians must have a serious, honest conversation about the future—one not defined by recycled elites or manufactured saviors, but by a collective movement for genuine transformation. We must refuse to be pawns in the game of power-hungry men.
“There is no lesser evil; evil is evil.” — Lebi Anuoluwapo.
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Anuoluwapo Lebi
Lebi is a seasoned journalist, with a penchant for politics, entertainment and community reportage.