A wave of frustration boiled over in Kano State as dozens of angry youths were seen in a now-viral video tearing down a large campaign billboard bearing the face of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The video, which quickly spread across social media platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), captures the raw anger of the young men—mostly in their 20s—who used sticks and bare hands to dismantle the towering billboard. As they pulled it apart, onlookers could be heard cheering, recording, and voicing their displeasure. The billboard read “Fatan Alheri 2027”—a message of goodwill for the 2027 elections—but for many in Kano, it only symbolized rising discontent.
This dramatic display comes at a time when public dissatisfaction is peaking nationwide. With escalating food prices, widespread insecurity, and what many see as a growing disconnect between government and citizens, the billboard became a flashpoint—a physical outlet for pent-up anger over broken promises and mounting hardship.
President Tinubu’s recent visits to Benue and Kaduna States have also stirred debate. In Benue, he paid a condolence visit after the horrific killing of over 200 residents by suspected armed herders. But critics argue the visit fell flat.
Renowned human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi, speaking on Channels TV, didn’t hold back his disappointment. He criticized the president’s tone during the visit, calling it more like a campaign stop than a moment of grief.
“Two hundred human beings were murdered,” Farotimi said. “And the president delivered a speech that sounded more like a political rally than a condolence message. How have we become this numb to mass death?”
He lamented the lack of urgency, empathy, and accountability shown by the government, calling the administration’s reaction “complicit” in Nigeria’s continued security failures.
“The state exists first to protect lives and property,” he said. “What we are witnessing is a dangerous collapse of that basic responsibility. Nigerians are dying—and the response is silence, distraction, and premature politics.”
As the 2027 elections inch closer, citizens like those in Kano are sending a loud message: they are not interested in slogans or premature campaigns. What they want is action—leadership that listens, protects, and delivers.
For now, the image of young Nigerians tearing down a presidential campaign poster is more than just a protest. It’s a powerful metaphor for a country on edge—and a generation unwilling to be silenced.
