Did Tinubu Aim To Sabotage Christmas?

“The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.” – Burton Hillis

Today is Christmas Day, the largest global festival that no force can impede. History records it that even at war fronts, warring soldiers agree to a ceasefire in honor and respect of this day. Even in Nigeria bandits and forest marauders pause their activities to recognize the birthday anniversary of the Messiah. The 2011 Christmas Day bombing on St. Theresa’s Church in Madala, Niger State, but an Abuja suburb, remains the most devastating in Nigeria’s history on Christmas.

Regardless of one’s situation – be it in a hospital or a prison – this day stands out unequivocally. In Nigeria, successive poor leadership has repeatedly attempted to diminish the significance of Christmas, but these efforts have consistently failed because the essence of the feast transcends national boundaries.

The politicization of Christmas in Nigeria began with the emergence of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2014. The then Spokesman of the party, Lai Muhammad, infamously derided President Goodluck Jonathan’s government with a Christmas message that proclaimed: “This Is Your Last #Christmas In Bondage.” He assured Nigerians then that hope lay on the horizon, despite the pervasive gloom across the land. If hope has truly been present since 2015, I leave it to you, dear readers, to judge.

Since then, Christmas festivities have become a battleground for political agendas in Nigeria. In 2021, six years into the APC’s eight-year reign, the fiery Catholic  Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Hassan Kukah lamented the failure of governance under General Muhammadu Buhari in his Christmas message, stating: “There is no way any non-Northern Muslim President could have done a fraction of what President Buhari has done through nepotism and gotten away with it.” He boldly posited that if a Southern President had committed similar actions, it would have sparked a military coup or led the nation to war.

This didn’t go down well with the APC Government who retaliated harshly to Bishop Kukah’s mere mention of a coup, with Lai Muhammad accusing him of being ungrateful and impious for using the Christmas season, a time of peace, to ignite division. Mohamed declared that while religious leaders have a right to confront those in power, such truths should not be delivered with anger and hatred, nor should they promote disunity. 

Today, a Southern President has been in power since 2023 who arguably has surpassed Buhari in terms of governance failures but the Bishop finds himself in a different predicament as it appears Tinubu has happened to him.

From all indications, this Christmas, Bishop Kukah is unlikely to provoke the APC government, as Tinubu has deviously befriended him, even inviting him to the Villa during Ministerial swearing-in ceremonies, for episcopal blessing. But that’s a discussion for another day. Today is Christmas – a time the writer Richelle Goodrich describes as a candy that sweetens every taste bud, creating a desire for its sweetness to last forever. Great minds have also characterized this season in various words as a timeless magic, prompting Charles Dickens to declare: “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” 

While Maya Angelou, with characterised for Christmas, insightfully remarked: “I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by how honour handle these three things: A rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.” A poor beggar in a village market square in Obollo Afor, Enugu State, overwhelmed by the generosity of gift exchange during Christmas, mused aloud about the jubilant atmosphere of this day, wondering what mood it was during the birthday of the man and at his naming ceremony. This is indeed the universal spirit of Christmas.

However, amidst all the Christmas admiration, President Bola Tinubu made a decision that has raised eyebrows and sparked debates on whether it was an intentional act of sabotage against the festivities to limit the movement of the elites to the countryside for fear of the effect on his second-term project. Just days before Christmas, he announced the withdrawal of security operatives assigned to Nigeria’s Very Important Persons (VIPs). While this might seem overdue, given that most trained Police personnel are disproportionately allocated to VIPs while the general public receives inadequate security, the execution lacks foresight.

Tinubu’s directive may appear popular, yet, as with many of his actions – from subsidy removal to currency management – it lacks proper planning. There was no structured replacement for the withdrawn security personnel; the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp units that were instructed to take over are ill-equipped and untrained for the role. Moreover, they have historically struggled to perform their primary mandated duties effectively due to constraints.

What makes this situation more troubling is the timing of the directive. Coming on the eve of Christmas, it is perceived by many as a blatant undermining of this significant celebration. The consequences of such decisions are clear; leaders must recognize the profound impact their actions can have on the cultural and social fabric of the nation.

The essence of this discussion highlights the need for thoughtful and well-timed policy making, particularly in relation to cultural and national celebrations. As we reflect on the holiday season, it’s essential to prioritize actions that support peace, unity, and joy throughout the nation.

The plight of Nigerians during the last three Christmas seasons – 2023, 2024, and 2025 – has been remarkably challenging. Every issue Bishop Kukah identified as problematic during Buhari’s administration has deteriorated further under Tinubu’s leadership. Many observers contend that Tinubu has taken an anti-Christmas, anti-people approach that undermines the very spirit of the season. Let me explain how this manifests.

Since the birth of Jesus Christ, 2025 years ago, which Christmas commemorates, there has been a steadfast tradition of people returning to their hometowns during the festive season, a practice that has endured despite increasing urbanisation over more than two millennia. Let us also not forget that Christmas being close to the end of the year, combines the festivity with stock taking. 

Christmas is also known as the most commercialisation of the year, marked by the exchange of gifts, particularly from the wealthy to the less fortunate. It’s also time to initiate and start community development projects. For the impoverished and marginalized, this season represents a beacon of hope and anticipation.

President Tinubu’s abrupt decision to withdraw police orderlies and security details from VIPs during the high-pressure holiday season is viewed by many as an act of sabotage against safety. Critics of this policy argue that this decision is perilous; VIPs, including politicians, business moguls, and traditional leaders, are frequent targets for kidnapping and assassination. Removing security at a time when public appearances and travel are on the rise creates “soft targets.” Many of these VIPs hold large events and community gatherings during Christmas; without a professional and official security presence, crowd control becomes a significant issue, leading to potential local instability.

While the intent to serve the public interest is evident – given that a disproportionate number of officers are often assigned to protect individuals, leaving neighbourhoods under-policed – the execution of this policy is where the real problem lies.  

But as I write from the scenery of my homeland surrounded by friends, relations, and family members enjoying the Nsukka flora and fauna,  I can attest to you that despite efforts to diminish the joy of Christmas, the holiday has transcended borders to become a global phenomenon. It is not merely a one-dimensional celebration; it represents a dynamic intersection of religion, culture, economics, and human psychology. Christmas is, in fact, “unstoppable” as it adapts to fit any society it encounters. Therefore, let us remember that Christmas is fundamentally about embracing others, and let the reason for this season be our guiding principle as we celebrate. Merry Christmas to all!