A recent photo of top officials lining up to welcome President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Abuja airport has sparked a debate about Nigeria's political culture.
The image showed the National Security Advisor, Nuhu Ribadu, the Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, and the Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, greeting the President after his return from an international trip.
In a chat with Kofi Bartels on the Morning Crossfire on Nigeria Info 99.3 FM, Dr Majeed Dahiru, a Public Affairs Analyst and commentator, criticised the practice.
He argued that such elaborate ceremonies are better suited for monarchs, not for an elected president in a democracy. He said it creates an "imperial" image instead of a "servant-leader" one.
"One would have thought that some of the conventions and traditions we have would be more about service," Dr Dahiru said.
Dr Dahiru also spoke about state governors who are often seen in Abuja.
He suggested this shows a flaw in how Nigeria's federal system is operating, with governors spending too much time around the presidency instead of in their states, while asking that they spend more time in their states to focus on the "welfare and security" of their citizens.
