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What Politicians Need to Learn from Davido
By Joel Popoola
It is clearly obvious that Nigerians trust pop stars enough to send them money. As a result, politicians need to learn something from Davido.
Imagine if President Buhari used the internet to ask Nigerians to send him the money he needed to pay import taxes on a new Rolls Royce.
How many of us do you think would oblige?
But this is exactly what musician Davido did last week, and the results were astonishing.
“If u know I’ve given you a hit song … send me money” the singer posted on Twitter, alongside details of a bank account.
Within 90 minutes Davido shared a screenshot showing that more than N42 million naira had already been deposited.
The next day a further screenshot showed that the total had risen to N184 million naira, as celebrities, sport stars and companies began boasting of their donations.
Some fans questioned the morality of a performer who frequently shares photos of himself posing on private jets asking fans with only a few naira to their name to send him their cash.
“Someone who isn’t in need encouraging people who are likely in need and who have much less than them to send them money is weird in a country where only a small tiny per cent have up to N500k in their account” said one.
Others clearly felt very differently.
“I did it out of love. I know he is much richer than me and people saying why would I do that,” one fan told the BBC.
“It feels like one of my aims has been achieved. It’s rare for a fan to transact with a celebrity.”
Davido has subsequently revealed that all donations will be given to orphanages alongside a large personal donation.
But the episode contains crucial lessons for our political leaders, who – it’s fair to say – do not inspire the same devotion as Davido.
One recent study suggests that just 24% of Nigerians trust the government.
72% of Nigerians believe the statement “most politicians are corrupt” describes our country well – and 60% say it describes Nigeria “very well”.
Only 39% of Nigerians are satisfied with the way democracy is working in our country, while 60% say they are not satisfied.
These figures undoubtedly contribute to the worst voter turnout in West Africa – 36% at the last presidential election, compared to 68% in Ghana.
It’s fair to say that many of us begrudge paying our taxes, given the likelihood that some of them will lend up in the back pocket of a corrupt official. I expect practically no-one would be willing to pay to get their local politician’s luxury car through customs!
Of course, Davido had some advantages over politicians. He doesn’t have a decades long record of broken promises and corruption – only a back catalogue of hit records.
But part of his popularity stems from his engagement with his fans on social media. And this is a lesson Nigerian politicians have to learn. Davido’s fans feel like they know him. They feel like he knows them in return. They feel like they have a relationship with him.
At the digital democracy project I lead we are using social media to reconnect electors and the elected. Our free Rate Your Leader app is designed to helps politicians engage directly with voters on a person to person basis – helping them understand what matters most to the people who elect them and build relationships of trust with the electorate.
To many Nigerians politicians can feel like very remote – even irrelevant– figures. Apps like Rate Your Leader can bridge that divide and make it clear to local people how vital their work is and how committed to their communities they are.
Rate Your Leader also allows voters to put questions directly to decision makers – and rate the quality of answers they receive. In the digital era, user reviews are everything to consumers. People visit restaurants because customers have rated them highly on TripAdvisor. People buy online because consumers have rated products highly on Amazon. And we believe that people will vote for politicians that have proven that they are credible, trustworthy and responsive – and have the independent ratings to prove it.
We’re not saying that using social media tools like Rate Your Leader to engage with residents will end up with them posting bank notes to the state house.
But it can make them feel real, relevant and relatable. And that in turn is vital for our democracy.
Joel Popoola is a Nigerian tech entrepreneur, digital demcocracy campaigner and is creator of the Rate Your Leader app. He can be reached via @JOPopoola
The Nigeria Police Force has suspended the nationwide enforcement of its tinted glass permit policy following an interim court order that restrained the move.
The Force announced on December 15, 2025, that it would begin enforcing the policy starting January 2, 2026, citing its responsibility to ensure public safety and internal security.
However, in a statement issued on Thursday and signed by Force Public Relations Officer Benjamin Hundeyin, the police revealed that they were served with an interim order on December 17, 2025.
The enforcement will remain suspended pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit or the vacation of the interim order.
“The Nigeria Police Force was served with an interim order of court in Suit No. HOR/FHR/M/31/2025, issued on 17th December 2025, restraining the Force from proceeding with the enforcement of the Tinted Glass Permit policy pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit or the vacation of the order,” the statement said.
The police also confirmed that they had entered an appearance in the case, raised preliminary objections, and formally requested the vacation of the interim order.
The case has been adjourned to January 20, 2026, for further hearing.
“In line with constitutional obligations and respect for judicial authority, the Nigeria Police Force has entered appearance in the matter, raised preliminary objections, and formally applied for the vacation of the interim order. The court has adjourned the case to 20th January 2026 for further proceedings,” the statement added.
The statement noted that the suspension of enforcement is being carried out in strict adherence to the ongoing court order.
“Accordingly, and strictly in compliance with the subsisting court order, the Nigeria Police Force has placed the enforcement of the Tinted Glass Permit policy on hold nationwide, pending the decision of the court.”
Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to upholding the rule of law while fulfilling its duty to protect lives and property.
“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM, affirms that the Nigeria Police Force remains resolute in upholding the rule of law while discharging its primary mandate of protecting lives and property. The Force will continue to deploy lawful, intelligence-driven strategies to address security challenges and safeguard public safety across the country,” the statement added.
The Force also assured members of the public that it would communicate further developments and issue clear guidance as appropriate, following the court’s determination of the matter, in the overriding interest of public order and national security.
The Federal High Court In Abuja on Tuesday ordered the remand of the Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of their bail application.
The trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, also ordered the remand of his co-dedendants, his son, Abubakar Malami, and one of his wives Bashir Asabe.
Justice Nwite made the order after taking arguments from the defence team led by Joseph Daudu (SAN) and the prosecution counsel Ekele Iheneacho (SAN).
Malami and his co-defendants are facing a 16-count money laundering charge preferred against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The EFCC alleges that the defendants conspired at various times to conceal, retain and disguise the proceeds of unlawful activities running into several billions of naira.
According to the charge, the alleged offences span several years and include the use of companies and bank accounts to launder funds, the retention of cash as collateral for loans, and the acquisition of high-value properties in Abuja, Kano and other locations.
The commission further alleges that some of the offences were committed while Malami was serving as Attorney-General of the Federation, in breach of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011, as amended, and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has sent a veiled message to Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, saying support for President Bola Tinubu alone will not guarantee any election ticket.
Wike made the statement on Sunday during a public outing in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State.
His remarks were widely seen as directed at Governor Fubara, amid lingering political crisis in the State.
The former Governor of Rivers State said political loyalty must be tested during difficult times, not after power has been secured.
He mocked those he described as late supporters of President Tinubu, insisting that sudden alignment would not earn political rewards.
He said: “So the issue is not whether you are supporting Tinubu. That one, we have taken too long, long… Yes, oh. So Tinubu’s issue is not an issue again. Yes. Do you understand me? Yes. Tinubu’s issue is that nobody should be coming here to tell a day. We are for Tinubu; I am against you. Who is for Tinubu University? (laughs) That cannot give you any ticket oh! (laughs again) Direct, direct. It will not. Direction. Direction.”
Wike stressed that his political camp stood with Tinubu when the decision was unpopular. He said that support given under pressure carries more weight than alignment after victory.
He also recalled how the Rivers State House of Assembly openly backed Tinubu early, long before the election outcome was certain.
According to him, some of those now making public declarations were absent during the critical period.
“The same people now who came to declare, put them to God… But they should declare they are saying it for a candidate. Yes. Don’t you see characters? (laughs) So I send the sword far ahead of them.”
Wike further spoke on governance and continuity. He defended projects and agreements initiated during his tenure as governor. He said it is often difficult for successors to acknowledge past efforts, even though government is a continuous process.
His comments come weeks after Governor Fubara formally aligned with the All Progressives Congress (APC), the party of President Tinubu.
The move followed months of political crisis in Rivers State, which led to federal intervention and a declaration of emergency rule.
Political watchers believe Wike’s remarks constitute a direct response to Fubara’s recent positioning as a key Tinubu ally in Rivers politics. Critics argue that Fubara’s support surfaced only after the political storm had settled.
Wike, who remains a dominant force in Rivers State politics despite serving in Abuja, appears to have drawn a clear line ahead of the 2027 elections.
He suggested that political tickets would be decided by proven loyalty, not convenience.
Videos from the event in Rumuche, Emohua, spread rapidly on social media. Many users described the speech as a coded warning to the governor.
As of press time, neither the Rivers State Government nor Wike’s media team had issued an official clarification.
The comments, however, suggest that the political rift between both camps is still active, despite earlier peace moves brokered at the national level.
