Nigeria at a Crossroads: Why the Everyday Nigerian Matters More Than the Political Elite -By Usman Muhammad Salihu

In Nigeria today, the loudest voices are those of politicians, policymakers, and power brokers. They dominate the headlines, flood our timelines, and distract us with promises that rarely survive beyond campaign seasons. Yet, the true story of this country isn’t written in the echo chambers of Abuja or the mansions of Lagos. It is written daily in the struggles, resilience, and quiet innovations of ordinary citizens.

Think about the woman who wakes before dawn to fry bean cakes by the roadside not only to feed her children but also to put other people’s children on the road to school. Or the young graduate who, tired of waiting for white-collar jobs, starts a small business online and employs three others. These stories rarely make the news. Yet, they are the heartbeat of our nation.

But here’s the tragedy, contemporary Nigeria seems designed to work against these everyday heroes. Power cuts paralyze small businesses. Inflation, now on food items, erodes family savings before the end of the month. Insecurity forces farmers to abandon their fields and traders to fear the road. Meanwhile, most of the political class remains locked in battles over appointments, power-sharing, and personal interests.

The question is not whether Nigeria has potential, we have repeated that mantra for decades. The real question is, when will we begin to prioritize the citizen above the system?

Imagine a Nigeria where governance shifts from elite negotiations to practical solutions; working schools, safe communities, accessible healthcare, and reliable electricity. That’s not fantasy, it is a choice.

The good news is that despite the odds, Nigerians are not waiting. Communities are solving their own problems. Tech-savvy youths are creating digital markets. Women’s cooperatives are building small savings pools. Farmers are collaborating to beat middlemen. These are the silent revolutions we must amplify, not just the failures of the elite.

If the political class won’t prioritize the citizen, then the media, civil society, and Nigerians themselves must. We must keep shifting the spotlight from what politicians promise to what Nigerians are already doing. Because that is how change starts, not from the top, but from the people who refuse to give up.

Nigeria stands at a crossroads. One road leads to more political drama, endless debates, and broken promises. The other road leads to a citizen-centered nation where leaders are compelled to serve, not rule.

The choice is ours. But more importantly—the responsibility is theirs.

Usman Muhammad Salihu was among the pioneer fellows of PRNigeria and wrote from Jos, Nigeria.
muhammadu5363@gmail.com