There is an old African proverb that says, “The cane used to beat the first wife is still resting on the roof, waiting for the second.” This proverb, rich in wisdom, perfectly captures the current state of our nation’s political journey.
When the All Progressives Congress (APC) ascended to power, it did so under the banner of change. It was presented to the people as a coalition of reformers, a union of patriots with a vision to rescue Nigeria from years of rot and mismanagement. But in reality, it was a coalition of strange bedfellows—career politicians, power-hungry elites, and recycled public officers—united not by shared ideology or love for the nation, but by a common thirst for power and personal gain.
Years later, the consequences of that alliance are evident: economic instability, rising insecurity, deepening poverty, and a disillusioned populace. The promised change turned out to be a repackaged continuity of suffering.
Now, as the political space begins to stir again with talks of yet another coalition—a blend of both familiar faces and new players—there is a growing narrative of hope being sold to the masses. They call it a movement to rescue Nigeria, a new dawn, a fresh start.
But we must ask: rescue Nigeria from whom? From the very same people who were either active participants or silent enablers of the rot we face today?
The danger we now face as a people is not just in bad governance, but in our repeated surrender to deceptive rebranding. Many of these so-called “saviours” are simply wolves in different clothing—men and women whose only qualification is their capacity to manipulate public sentiment and ride on the fatigue and frustrations of the populace.
It is becoming increasingly clear that the Nigerian masses are being caught in a tragic loop—oscillating between two devils. One wears the cloak of yesterday’s failure, and the other, the mask of tomorrow’s false hope.
As citizens, we must go beyond sentiments, slogans, and shallow promises. The time has come to scrutinize not just the faces on our screens, but the records behind the rhetoric. We must resist the urge to romanticize every new alliance or jump at every rebranded politician without critical evaluation.
The cane is still on the roof—waiting. Unless we break the cycle of deceit and demand true accountability and character from our leaders, that cane will descend again, not just on one wife, but on generations to come.