When the Palace Shifts: A Dream And a Warning for Nigeria -By Leonard Karshima Shilgba

Some seasons of my life have been marked by dreams that later found remarkable fulfillment in Nigeria’s national life. In November 2009, I published an article titled “Yar’Adua’s Incapacitation, the Constitution, and a Dream” (see the link: [https://www.thenigerianvoice.com/amp/news/1624/on-yaraduas-incapacitation-the-constitution-and-a-dream.html] ) in which I shared a dream I had, and offered a constitutional-warning to the nation. The dream was fulfilled with precision even as fallout of the “dastardly” reaction to Jonathan’s rise from Northern Nigeria that I saw in the revelation is still with us today.

In January 2013, I wrote another piece, “The Prince on Foot” (see [https://www.gamji.com/article9000/NEWS9865.htm] ) in which I shared a second dream in which then President Goodluck Jonathan was “locked outside the palace”—a dream that was later fulfilled when he lost the 2015 election to Muhammadu Buhari.

Last night, I had a third dream—this time involving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima. Given the pattern of previous dreams and their fulfillment, I submit this reflection to the body of Christ, Nigeria’s moral leadership, and every concerned citizen—so that we may discern, pray, and act.

The Dream (as I recall it)

* I saw President Tinubu die—or more precisely, his presidency ended by sudden removal or incapacitation.

* Vice President Shettima stepped into the presidential office (through constitutional succession or sudden transfer of power).

* He then prepared to pick a running mate from the South of Nigeria.

* But a strong wave of disquiet and protest rose among some southerners, who invoked the precedent of the Yar’Adua-Jonathan transition to say: “We were promised one thing; this looks like another.”

* The atmosphere was tense: regional distrust, questions of legitimacy, murmurs in the corridors of power about fairness and rotation.

What the Dream Might Mean

1. End of an Era / Sudden Transfer

The death or sudden removal of President Tinubu in the dream may not necessarily imply physical death—it could symbolise the end of his presidency, significant weakening of his authority, or an enforced exit. The constitutional successor is Shettima. This points to the possibility of a leadership transition that is abrupt rather than conventional.

 2. Regional Balance  And Southern Unease

The setting of a South-of-Nigeria running mate and the disquiet among southerners reflect the deep-seated issue of regional balance in Nigeria’s power structure. The mention of the “Yar’Adua precedent” suggests that the memory of the 2010 transition (north- to-south) is vivid and may be influencing today’s political imagination—but now the roles appear reversed (south-to-north). This signals the possibility of southern backlash, feelings of marginalisation, or a breakdown of trust unless handled with extreme care.

3. The Constitutional And Moral Warning

Just as in 2009 I warned that Nigeria could not afford a vacuum of leadership, unconstitutional manipulation, and the arm-twisting of then-Vice President Jonathan, this dream warns that another transitional crisis is looming unless the Church and nation take heed. The delays, ambiguities and regional tensions surrounding succession could again bring us to the brink of constitutional breakdown, unrest, or extra-legal manoeuvres.

Why This Matters

* Nigeria’s past shows us that when the presidency is suddenly vacated (by death, illness, resignation), the conditions are ripe for regional conflict, power grabs, and constitutional shortcuts. The 2009-2010 crisis during Yar’Adua’s illness is a case in point. ([africanreview.com][1])

* The dream’s symbolic invocation of that precedent indicates we may be entering another critical moment of national reckoning: loyalty, legitimacy, and the Rule of Law will be under test.

* As  moral-spiritual leaders, we are placed at the cusp of this intersection of faith and governance—there is a call to be a watchman (Ezekiel 33), and to raise the alarm.

What I Propose / Call to Action

1. Pray without ceasing  for President Tinubu, for Vice President Shettima, and for all leaders of Nigeria, that God will bring wisdom, favour, and integrity to the transition (whether voluntary or forced).

2. Mobilise southern churches and civic leaders to engage in constructive dialogue, to avoid the pattern of “the South complains afterward” and instead participate proactively in what is coming.

3. Advocate for constitutional clarity: ensure the steps for succession, running-mate selection, election timetable and regional rotation are transparent and trusted.

4. My responsibility is partly fulfilled in publishing and warning about this dream: my previous publications provided early warning in 2009 and 2013. This third dream deserves similar documentation so that Nigerians are aware, alert, and prepared.

5. President Tinubu and his close allies should acknowledge this revelation and spice up good governance as a veritable legacy while the Governor of the whole earth offers them opportunity. They should neither be afraid nor manipulate anything in an untoward way. The Divine Counsel stands sure. They should demonstrate compassion to Nigerians and integrity in service.

6. Christian and civic leaders should lead relevant fora (e.g., in their Christian ministries, or campus dialogues, or town hall meetings) on “Transitions, Trust and Truth in Nigeria’s Governance”: link the biblical principles of leadership, servanthood and institutional integrity to Nigeria’s current moment.

Concluding Word

God often uses dreams not merely to forecast events, but to shape the character of what is about to happen. The dream of last night is a prophetic call—not to fear, but to faithful intervention.  A shift in Nigeria’s leadership is possible (and perhaps likely) in the near term; how the South responds, whether the transition is peaceful or divisive, whether legitimacy holds or fails—all of these are in the balance.

As one who has already recorded two dreams that bore meaning for the nation, I urge: let us not be passive spectators. Let our voices, prayers and actions contribute to a smooth transition, rooted in justice and unity, rather than a chaotic scramble for power.

May the Lord grant Nigeria mercy, may He raise righteous men and women, and may institutional succession be guided not by region or greed, but by servanthood, integrity, and love for the common good.

© Shilgba

References and Links:

* “On Yar’Adua’s Incapacitation, the Constitution, and a Dream” (November 2009) by Leonard Karshima Shilgba: [https://www.thenigerianvoice.com/amp/news/1624/on-yaraduas-incapacitation-the-constitution-and-a-dream.html]

* “The Prince on Foot” (January 2013) by Leonard Karshima Shilgba: [https://www.gamji.com/article9000/NEWS9865.htm]

* For context on the 2009-2010 Nigerian constitutional crisis: “Nigeria in 2010 – a watershed year.” African Review, 26 March 2010. ([africanreview.com][1]

[1]: https://africanreview.com/finance/economy/nigeria-in-2010-a-watershed-year?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Nigeria in 2010 – a watershed year”

[2]: https://www.thenigerianvoice.com/news/1624/on-yaraduas-incapacitation-the-constitution-and-a-dream.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com “On Yar’adua’s Incapacitation, the Constitution, and a dream”