In a recent post on his verified X account, Senator Shehu Sani delivered a poignant reflection on the repeated betrayals endured by the Nigerian people at the hands of those who once claimed to be their saviours. His words struck a deep and familiar chord across the nation: “Nigerians have for years suffered in the hands of many messiahs who promised to salvage them, who promised to save them, who promised to free them, who promised to change them, who promised to deliver them, who promised to lift them out of poverty, who promised to put food on their table, who promised to take them to heaven, who promised to update their hopes and who are promising to rescue them.”
This powerful statement encapsulates the painful history of unfulfilled promises that Nigerians have come to know all too well. From campaign podiums to policy blueprints, successive leaders have spoken the language of hope, evoked visions of transformation, and captured the public’s desire for better lives. Yet, over time, these pledges have too often dissolved into disappointment. The messiahs have come, but salvation has remained elusive.
The cycle persists: politicians rise with grand rhetoric, only to falter when confronted with the realities of governance—or worse, to abandon their commitments altogether. Senator Sani’s message is not just a lamentation, but a stark reminder of the danger of misplaced trust and the necessity of holding leaders accountable beyond the promise of words.
