A People In Constant Search For “Messiahs”

By Kelechi Okoronkwo, PhD

A BBC report observed that Nigerians are so proud of Lt. A.M Yerima, an officer who resisted an influential minister. It said Nigerians showed their support to the extent that they used Yerima as Display Pictures (DPs) on Facebook, Whats-app and other social media platforms. And it is true.

A lot of women even started romanticizing him. Ladies used Artificial Intelligence to create their wedding IVs with the now famous young officer. They are Dreamers.

The reason for that support was that Nigerians thought they had found someone who could stand up to the government.

In many democracies, citizens demonstrate pride in their governments and political leaders, even when ideological differences persist. Once elections are concluded, it is common for societies to rally behind constituted authorities, extending respect to both incumbent leaders and historical figures who shaped the nation’s trajectory. Such civic cultures often emphasize collective solidarity, national identity, and trust in public institutions.

Nigeria presents a contrasting pattern. Contemporary socio-political dynamics suggest deep public dissatisfaction with leadership. It has produced a climate where resistance to authority is celebrated more than cooperation with it. Public discourse both offline and on digital platforms rewards individuals who openly challenge governmental actors. This phenomenon, as unfortunate as it is, reflects a population that perceives political institutions as ineffective, unresponsive, or disconnected from everyday realities.

The other day, the Minister of Works had it rough during an interview on Arise TV. Although many observers argued that the interviewer’s tone was discourteous, public sentiment overwhelmingly aligned with the journalist. Huge support for the journalist was less about journalistic merit. It was more about a symbolic act of confronting a political authority.

It was a similar scenario with the FCT Minister Vs the young military officer. Despite being widely described as hardworking, the Minister has clearly become a target of public resentment, indicating a growing disconnection between official performance and citizens’ perceptions of governance.

This environment has contributed to the elevation of self-proclaimed human rights activists, some of whom attract mass followership not necessarily due to their commitment to democratic or social values but because they represent defiance against state power.

In the Nigerian context, public endorsement often shifts toward anyone perceived as courageous enough to “stand up to the government,” irrespective of their credibility or ideological consistency.

This dynamic reflects what political communication scholars describe as charismatic anti-establishment appeal, where legitimacy is conferred through resistance rather than substantive policy engagement.

Another illustrative incident occurred at the Supreme Court on Thursday, where circulating videos showed staff of the institution cheering Biafra’s separatist leader, Nnamdi Kanu during his appearance to file his case. Kanu’s warm reception marked by applause and his cheerful acknowledgment reveals how symbolic protestation of authority resonates deeply within segments of the population.

More striking is the case of that young Nigerian nudist who is gaining prominence not for professional accomplishments but for publicly defying state institutions. His celebrity status among some youths underscores a broader cultural shift in which anti-government posturing becomes a pathway to visibility and influence. In more stable political environments, such individuals would remain marginal to mainstream civic discourse. In Nigeria, however, they emerge as embodiments of public frustration.

These patterns collectively signal a profound crisis of trust between citizens and the political establishment. The elevation of dissenting figures, irrespective of their moral standing, suggests that Nigerians are not merely discontent, they are actively searching for alternative forms of leadership that reflect accountability, empathy, and transparency.

This should serve as a critical indicator for policymakers: public disengagement and rising anti-institutional sentiment are symptomatic of a governance model that requires urgent recalibration.

Kelechi Okoronkwo, PhD, is a journalist and Public Relations Executive