Public analyst Mahdi Shehu has sparked controversy by labeling Northern Nigeria a ‘land of the living dead,’ citing severe security failures and societal paralysis. In a Saturday post on X, he argued that the region’s population exists in a state of fear and hopelessness, unable to confront escalating challenges.
Shehu criticized the populace for being traumatized and passive, lacking the will to demand change. He pointed to compromised elites, weak traditional institutions, and a docile citizenry as key factors enabling the region’s decline. ‘They are spineless, visionless, planless, and have become a laughing stock,’ he wrote, blaming greed, envy, and hatred for worsening conditions.
The commentator concluded with a stark metaphor: ‘RIP Northern Nigeria. Imams and priests are unavailable for burial because most of them are standing on a mandate.’ This remark suggests religious leaders are complicit in the status quo, prioritizing political allegiance over pastoral duties.