Binding the Nigerian Strong Man – 1
There is an illustration in the Christian holy book that speaks of the need to “bind a strong man” in order to retrieve what he has taken. In the story, a strong man is depicted as having many riches and possessions, seemingly stolen or forcibly collected from others. The strategy laid out is bold: invade the strong man’s house, overpower him, tie him up, and plunder his ill-gotten gains.
This ancient metaphor has perhaps never been more relevant to Nigeria than it is today. As our beleaguered country remains ensnared in the stranglehold of socio-economic decay and political turmoil—largely due to a culture of impunity, oppression, and “strongmanism”—it has become urgent to salvage what remains of her fading potential. To save Nigeria in 2024 and beyond, the Nigerian strong man must be bound, his house plundered, and his stolen goods returned to their rightful owners: the Nigerian people.
On July 11, 2009, in the chambers of Ghana’s parliament, former U.S. President Barack Obama famously stated, “Africa does not need strong men, it needs strong institutions.” Time has proven him right. Of all the afflictions plaguing African countries, and particularly Nigeria, strongman culture stands as one of the most damaging roots of national dysfunction. Strong men and strong institutions cannot coexist. For one to survive, the other must fall.
Who is the Nigerian Strong Man?
He is the Nigerian who believes he can get away with anything, as long as he has the right connections. With friends in the police and army, he will drive against traffic, unafraid of arrest. Accountability is, to him, just a word in the dictionary. He lives above the law, relying on his network of powerful friends to shield him from consequences.
He is also the gang lord who controls transport workers, artisans, and hawkers in his neighborhood. He is the law, the judge, and the enforcer. His name inspires fear; he commands thugs who intimidate on behalf of politicians during elections and maintains an arsenal of weapons, answerable only to his political benefactors. He does as he pleases, and everyone knows it.
Or he might be the political godfather of a town or state, siphoning public resources for years with no vision or plan for the people. A former or current officeholder, he moves in a convoy with an armed security escort while citizens suffer insecurity. His compound resembles a fortress; his family is heavily protected, while ordinary Nigerians are left exposed and defenseless.
The Nigerian strong man appears in many shapes and forms, yet he is a common thread in the country’s failure. He is the reason public institutions are weak and ineffective. He manipulates the law, knowing the police and judiciary are often in his pocket. When victims seek justice, he mocks them. “We run this town,” he laughs, alongside his equally corrupt associates, all reveling in their impunity.
The Nigerian Strong Man’s Benevolence
The strong man craves admiration, desiring to be seen as a benefactor. Lacking functional public services, citizens are forced to turn to him in times of need. They praise him for resolving issues that would otherwise fall under the purview of functional institutions. In an egotistical display, he makes a few phone calls, appearing as a hero, while the real cause of their plight is his very existence and the corruption he represents.
Students who cannot afford tuition fees approach the strong man, who hands out a fraction of his stolen wealth, earning their gratitude and reverence. These students might have benefited from a proper loan program if the funds hadn’t been embezzled. But there is no such program; the resources sit in the strong man’s accounts instead. Clad in his flowing agbada, he hands out scraps to his victims, who, in return, celebrate him.
Mothers with sick children flock to the strong man’s compound because they cannot afford the N5,000 hospital fees for their ailing babies. The strong man, in a performance of “benevolence,” gives them handouts. Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Health is starved of funds that could provide affordable healthcare. Those resources have filled the strong man’s accounts, satisfying his greed while the nation suffers.
Strong Men vs. Strong Institutions
The Nigerian strong man despises strong institutions, as they would require the funds he uses to secure his grip on society. He opposes institutional rule and mocks the law, daring anti-corruption agencies to arrest him. He might even saunter in and out of the EFCC offices, accompanied by the governor he installed. They dare not arrest him. He bankrolls political candidates, demanding their undivided loyalty. If they refuse, he stirs unrest in their states, and he says so on national TV..
The Nigerian strong man remains one of the country’s greatest obstacles to progress. He must be bound, his house raided, his possessions reclaimed. These resources do not belong to him; they belong to the Nigerian people. Nigeria does not need strong men—it needs strong institutions with empowered citizens. These two cannot exist alongside the interests and dominance of the strong man.
This is a task for all Nigerians. It is a risky task, as there is no battle without scars. Yet, it is a task that must be undertaken—boldly, relentlessly, and with the understanding that Nigeria’s future depends on it.
