By Dr. Ope Banwo, Mayor of Fadeyi and Founder, Naija Lives Matter
The People and their Political Leaders in Nigeria : Political Loyalty or Political Madness?
In a functioning democracy, passionate supporters are supposed to sell ideas, defend policies, and persuade with facts. But in Nigeria, we’ve weaponized loyalty. Instead of building bridges, we’re digging trenches.
Try making a neutral comment about Peter Obi, Bola Tinubu, or Atiku Abubakar, and prepare for the venom. This is no longer politics. It’s a fanatical civil war with tribal undertones.
So who is the most toxic? Let’s break it down — 10 dimensions of political toxicity — and call out all sides before Nigeria loses its soul.
⚖️ 10-Point Toxicity Comparison: Obidients Vs Batists Vs Atikulators
Online Harassment & Mob Culture
Obidients: Aggressive and relentless online. Say the wrong thing, and you’re branded a “cash-out influencer” or “enemy of the revolution.”
BATists: Not as noisy, but they use targeted trolls, bot amplification, and character assassination tactics. Think smear campaigns.
Atikulators: Less visible. They lurk and jab subtly. The toxicity comes in the form of old-school party hacks pushing disinformation in WhatsApp groups.
Most Toxic: Obidients (online mob rule)
Runner-Up: BATists (coordinated trolling)
Tribal and Religious Bigotry
BATists: The most openly tribal. Lagos elections proved it — “Vote your own,” “Go back to Onitsha” chants, and violence against non-Yoruba voters.
Obidients: Often paint the North as a monolithic problem, hiding tribalism under the banner of “youth revolution.” They also have a growing, dangerous and violent Igbocentric wing that is trying to merge the IPOB Agenda with the laudable Obidient Agenda
Atikulators: Weaponize religion and regional identity—“our turn” propaganda in the North, especially using clerics.
Most Toxic: BATists (blatant tribal profiling)
Offline Violence and Intimidation
BATists: Masterminds of street-level voter suppression, thuggery, and area-boy enforcement. No contest here.
Obidients: Loud on the streets, but mostly peaceful. Some protests have gotten heated, but rarely violent. Obidients do most of their violence online.
Atikulators: Old-school thuggery in rural areas and party primary elections, but less visible in urban battlegrounds.
Most Toxic: BATists (real-world voter threats)
Zero Tolerance for Opposition
Obidients: You’re either 100% with Obi or you’re “bought.” No room for constructive criticism. Every dissenting opinion against their anointed messiah leader is a capital office.
BATists: Dismiss any critique with arrogance: “We don win, go and cry.” Legit concerns are mocked, not addressed.
Atikulators: More passive-aggressive. Use deflection, nostalgia, and party loyalty to shut down dissent.
Most Toxic: Obidients (their inability to tolerate opposition scares many people away from considering them for election into power)
Runner-Up: BATists (mocking dissent)
Issue-Based Engagement
Obidients: Started as the intellectual movement. Now it’s now mostly a personality cult where members demand worship without scrutiny. Issues take back seat to Obi’s piety.
BATists: Rarely argue issues. Always referencing Tinubu’s Lagos achievements. Little discussion of actual governance plan.
Atikulators: Talk about “experience” and “restructuring,” but never show up with credible, issue-based documentation.
Most Toxic: Obidients (only issue acceptable to them is Peter Obi’s superiority to all)
Runner-Up: BATists (issue denialism)
Political Evangelism & Fanaticism
Obidients: Political Pentecostals. If you don’t convert to their doctrine, you’re lost and going ot political hell. Every critic of Peter Obi or their viewpoint is seen as an agent of darkness with corn in his pockets.
BATists: Act like cultists around their “Jagaban.” The man can do no wrong. Even fuel queues and crushing inflation are explained as a “strategic jagaban initiative.”
Atikulators: Use old PDP-style persuasion — appeal to loyalty and history, not logic.
Most Toxic: Obidients (aggressive convert-or-die politics)
Runner-Up: BATists (JAGABANISM as gospel)
Media Manipulation & Disinformation
BATists: Have state machinery and traditional media allies. Misinformation is professionalized and systemic.
Obidients: Use influencer networks, viral tweets, and creative graphics — not always fact-checked.
Atikulators: Push outdated newspaper clippings and fake legacy metrics. Especially active on broadcast stations in the North after being overwhelmed on social media.
Most Toxic: BATists (state-sponsored propaganda)
Runner-Up: Obidients (unchecked influencer misinformation)
Patriotism vs Partisan Loyalty
Obidients: Claim patriotism, but often insult fellow citizens who don’t align. Their love of Nigeria ends where disagreement with them begins.
BATists: Equate Tinubu with Nigeria. If you criticize him, you’re unpatriotic or a hater. If you happen to be Yoruba, you must be a bastard to support Peter obi or Atiku.
Atikulators: Love Atiku more than Nigeria. Many can’t even explain why he’s still running — just “he’s our man.”
Most Toxic: BATists (blind loyalty over national interest)
Runner-Up: Atikulators (tribe before country)
Reactions to Failure or Criticism
Obidients: Collapse emotionally and lash out when cornered in a debate. “You don’t want change!” becomes the go-to attack when they cant defend their position.
BATists: They Laugh at peoples pain. If you’re suffering, it’s your fault for not supporting them. As far as they are concerned if you criticize Tinubu you are either a Yoruba bastard, useless ‘igbo’ sympathizer or ‘a stupid northerner with sense of entitlement’
Atikulators: Gaslight. “Atiku would’ve done better,” but with no evidence. They rewrite history daily.
Most Toxic: BATists (cold-hearted condescension)
Runner-Up: Obidients (emotional outbursts)
Capacity for Dialogue
Obidients: Unwilling to debate respectfully. They cancel first, explain later.
BATists: Only debate when they have the power advantage. Prefer mocking to explaining.
Atikulators: Don’t really engage. They echo party lines and avoid real conversation.
Most Toxic: Obidients (hostile to honest dialogue)
Runner-Up: BATists (condescending tone)
Final Verdict: No Saints Here
Obidients are the most aggressive online, emotionally volatile, and intolerant of disagreement.
BATists are the most dangerous offline, more tribal in rhetoric, and arrogantly dismissive.
Atikulators are the most manipulative, subtly toxic, and cling to outdated political myths.
But make no mistake — they are all toxic in different ways. And Nigerians are the collateral damage.
✊ Enough! We Need Ideas, Not Insults
If these supporters truly love Nigeria, they will start:
✅ Debating policies, not personalities
✅ Asking tough questions of their candidates
✅ Engaging with facts, not threats
✅ Encouraging accountability, not emotional blackmail
We must reject this cult of political loyalty and insist that all candidates — Tinubu, Obi, Atiku or anyone else — present clear, measurable, and deliverable solutions for Nigeria.
Message to Nigerians:
Let ideas win. Let insults die.
We don’t need messiahs. We need servants of the people.
Until that shift happens, we’ll keep electing kings who expect worship instead of leaders who earn our trust.
✍ Signed,
Dr. Ope Banwo
Mayor of Fadeyi | Founder, Naija Lives Matter
“Don’t drink the Kool-Aid — ask for receipts.”
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