In times of national crisis, it is often resistance movements that rise to save a nation. In Nigeria's history, groups like the pro-democracy NADECO coalition fought against the Abacha regime. Today, however, a different, more shadowy force is being called upon: an informal group known as the 'Legitimisers'.
Who Are Nigeria's Legitimisers?
Unlike formal boards of directors, Nigeria's governance has long been influenced by informal cadres. Two key groups exist: the 'Owners of Nigeria'—aged patriots who fought to keep the country united—and the more exclusive 'Legitimisers'. These Legitimisers are detribalised sentinels, often subsumed within the larger group of 'Owners'. They operate outside government structures, yet wield immense, quiet influence over the nation's political trajectory.
Their primary role is to validate critical national decisions and, crucially, to informally authenticate who is considered fit to lead Nigeria. Prospective, presumptive, and incumbent leaders are tacitly beholden to their approval. They do not carry party cards, but their exulted position grants them unfettered access to any sitting president. When they speak, wise leaders listen, and their public remarks often prompt immediate policy shifts.
A History of Steering Nigeria's Course
The hand of the Legitimisers can be traced through pivotal moments in recent Nigerian history. Reportedly, they were present in mid-November 1993 when stakeholders decided the composition of the Abacha regime after the ousting of the Interim National Government (ING). They largely validated the military's return to power.
Ahead of the 1999 return to democracy, they proffered the idea of 'a safe hand' to guide the nation. During the late President Umaru Yar'Adua's illness, they gave a nod to the 'Doctrine of Necessity', allowing it to become national policy. In 2015, they tacitly endorsed the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to strengthen democracy and redress the North-South leadership balance.
Their influence continues today. Insiders believe it was the Legitimisers who recently persuaded President Bola Tinubu to return the leadership of the Ministry of Defence to an experienced military officer following spiraling bandit killings.
The Urgent Tasks for 2027 and Beyond
Currently, two pressing tasks preoccupy the Legitimisers. First, they aim to retract Nigeria from the brink of being seen as a fulcrum for religiously induced genocide, a situation attracting international concern. Second, and more critically, is determining Nigeria's next leader, cognizant of public frustration with the Tinubu administration's performance and emerging evidence that the 2023 elections were exceedingly rigged.
Their focus is ensuring the 2027 elections are as transparent and credible as possible to keep democracy on an even keel. To maintain stability, they are believed to be orchestrating for the constitutional balance of power to remain in the south for the next four years. However, the specific individual to helm the nation for that period remains a subject of intense debate.
While they will not be seen openly taking sides, the Legitimisers are acting like puppeteers to ensure Nigeria's political drama does not descend into uncontrollable chaos. They are intensifying consultations across the nation's power centres, constructively engaged with the 'Owners of Nigeria', and are visibly perturbed by the daily anguish of citizens and the nation's lost global standing.
The question posed by analyst Oseloka H. Obaze remains: Can Nigeria's Legitimisers save the nation from perdition? The answer is a tentative 'perhaps'. They know they must act decisively before it is too late. For the sake of national interest, many pray they succeed, as they have in steering the country through past crises.
