From “Sai Baba” to “Buhari Yamutu”: A Sobering Reflection on Leadership Failure
A popular Yoruba proverb teaches:
“A dog that once wagged its tail in joy but now barks in hostility should prompt the owner to reflect. Something may have gone wrong.”
This wisdom isn’t a call to punish the dog, but rather a call for self-examination a principle we urgently need to apply to Nigeria’s political leadership.
In 2015, millions of hopeful Nigerians especially young people championed the “Sai Baba” movement with fervent optimism. They saw Muhammadu Buhari as the leader who would combat corruption, fix the economy, and restore national dignity. The slogan became a symbol of change, one repeated with hope in markets, on campuses, in the streets, and across social media.
But today, those same youths who once danced and rallied in Buhari’s support have turned their chants into protests. From Kano to Katsina, slogans like “Buhari Yamutu” now echo with frustration, disappointment, and betrayal. This shift is not just symbolic it’s a loud indictment of failed expectations.
These protests are not aimed at the former president, who is no longer in power and, in some sense, no longer the focus. Instead, the message is directed at the living those currently in leadership across all sectors of government and society.
The lesson? Leadership must remain accountable, humble, and responsive to the very people who once placed their hopes in it.
We must understand the reasons for this transformation from joy to anger, from trust to distrust. These young people are not enemies of the state; they are its conscience. Their discontent is rooted in worsening hardship, economic stagnation, and the broken promises of the leaders they once trusted.
This calls for more than just policy adjustments. It demands a cultural shift in how power is exercised one rooted in humility, constant self-evaluation, and an honest reckoning with public sentiment. As our elders taught us, it is wise to heed the barking dog not with retaliation, but with introspection.
The current anger isn’t just about Buhari. It is a warning to all current and aspiring leaders: if you ignore the signs of discontent and continue to govern with arrogance or indifference, you may soon find yourself on the wrong side of history rejected not only by your critics but by those who once believed in you.
