Tinubu Bows to the Weight of History - Abioye Tosin Lawrence

Old Guard’s Ritual: Tinubu Honors the Code

In a moment steeped in political tradition and symbolic weight, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu bowed before the remains of former President Muhammadu Buhari. To some, it was a simple gesture of farewell. But to those attuned to the pulse of Nigerian politics, it was a powerful nod to legacy, a ritual of the Old Guard, observed with quiet dignity.

It wasn’t just Tinubu paying his last respects. It was power acknowledging its lineage. A sitting president bowing to a predecessor speaks volumes, not just about the man on the mat, but about the mantle he once carried. In that act, Nigeria saw the continuity of a political code rarely broken.

This moment, quiet yet telling, should not be lost on the younger generation, especially those navigating the murky waters of modern Nigerian politics. The youth, many of whom have trained in the art and science of leadership, now speak in silos. Instead of building a formidable bloc, they scatter into factions, cling to personal ambitions, and often sabotage one another.

Some have chosen the fleeting comfort of political cheese, quick rewards, shallow alignments, over the long game of coalition-building and shared purpose. Friendships have been traded for short-term gains. Ideological differences have become excuses for disunity. In this fractured space, political betrayal has become normalized among those who should be laying the groundwork for a new Nigeria.

And while the Old Guard may have their flaws, they understand rituals, symbolism, and strategy. They protect their interests not just with power, but with coded gestures, like a bow before a fallen comrade, a moment of silence that says more than a thousand speeches.

What lessons will the youth carry from this moment? Will we learn the power of legacy, the importance of unity, and the discipline of timing? Or will we continue down a path of disjointed ambition?

Let this act of reverence, Tinubu bowing before the weight of history, serve as a mirror. Not just for those in power, but for those who hope to inherit it.

In the end, history does not reward brilliance alone. It honors those who understand the code, follow the ritual, and unite to preserve a future worth bowing to.

Abioye Tosin Lawrence, Publisher, Oriontimes Online Newspaper, and author of the upcoming memoir Voices from the fire; My journey through a hollow empire.