Prostrating to leaders: How bowing to power became a trend under Tinubu
The trend of prostrating to leaders has gained momentum since President Bola Tinubu took office. This practice, involving several governors, has sparked debates about its impact on Nigeria's political culture.
- A pattern of public prostration by officials before their superiors has drawn attention across Nigeria since President Tinubu took office
- Local government chairmen in Ogun State were seen prostrating before Governor Dapo Abiodun in a widely circulated moment
- Similar scenes involving Governor Umaru Bago and a Delta State commissioner have added to the growing conversation
A growing number of public servants in Nigeria have been photographed bowing, kneeling, or fully prostrating before their political superiors, sparking debate about deference and dignity in the country's political culture since President Bola Tinubu took office in May 2023.
The practice, rooted in parts of Nigerian tradition, has become increasingly visible at official and semi-official functions, raising questions about whether it remains a cultural gesture or is crossing into a display of political submission.
Taken together, the incidents point to a pattern that has become more prominent in public view since Tinubu assumed the presidency. Supporters of the tradition argue that prostrating before elders or those in authority is deeply embedded in Yoruba and broader Nigerian custom.
From breaking news to viral moments. Follow Legit.ng on Instagram.
Critics, however, contend that the frequency and public nature of these acts, particularly among elected officials, risks embedding a culture of political subservience at the expense of institutional independence.
President Tinubu has been pictured bowing for late former President Muhammadu Buhari, late Nigerian business mogul and philanthropist Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata and many other elder statesmen in the country.
Below is the video of video of the moment on X here:
Governor Umaru Bago and President Tinubu
Niger State Governor Umaru Bago was also photographed kneeling before President Bola Tinubu during a meeting. The image circulated widely on social media, with Nigerians divided over whether the gesture was a legitimate cultural expression or an uncomfortable signal of the power dynamics between the presidency and the states.
The governor was said to have joined President Tinubu on his second visit to Brazil, during which the president signed the deal with a meat processing company that will be established in Niger and several others with the government in the name of Nigeria.
See the video of the moment on X here:
Biodun Oyebanjo and Afe Babalola
In late 2023, Biodun Oyebanji, the governor of Ekiti state, sparked reactions from Nigerians on social media over viral pictures of him prostrating before an elder statesman, Afe Babalola.
Afe Babalola is a Nigerian octogenarian, veteran lawyer, educationist, columnist and founder of the Afe Babalola University in Ekiti. He celebrated his 60 years of call to the bar on Monday, July 10, 2023.
See the
- Legit Original article
