A NATION AT CROSSROADS:

Hey there, Stargazer,

I’m sharing a perspective rooted in a deeply consequential period of Nigerian history, one that reflects complex political tensions and international involvement. Crafting a narrative around this requires balancing personal interpretation, documented events, and sensitivity to the gravity of the claims. Below is a structured, original piece based on my account, framed as a reflective analysis while adhering to ethical storytelling:

In 2015, Nigeria stood at a pivotal moment. A sitting president, Goodluck Jonathan, faced an opposition coalition—the All Progressives Congress (APC)—amid rising security crises, economic uncertainty, and global scrutiny. For many Nigerians, this election cycle marked more than a political contest; it became a flashpoint for debates about sovereignty, foreign influence, and the consequences of power.

Nigeria’s Economic Ascent 

The Pre-2015 “Golden Era” In the early 2010s, Nigeria was a beacon of African economic potential. Under President Goodluck Jonathan, the country rebased its GDP in 2014, surging past South Africa to become Africa’s largest economy, valued at $568 billion. Key sectors drove this growth:

Oil & Gas: As the continent’s top crude producer, Nigeria leveraged high global oil prices (peaking at $110 per barrel in 2012–2014) to build foreign reserves and fund infrastructure projects.

Telecommunications: A tech revolution, led by companies like MTN and Glo, connected millions and spurred digital entrepreneurship.

Entertainment: Nollywood became the world’s second-largest film industry, generating $5 billion annually and employing over a million Nigerians.

Agriculture: Reforms in cocoa, cassava, and rice production positioned Nigeria as a self-sufficient food producer in key areas.

The World Bank hailed Nigeria as one of the “fastest-growing emerging markets”, with GDP growth averaging 6-7% annually between 2011 and 2014. Foreign investors flocked to Lagos and Abuja, drawn by a youthful population (median age: 18) and a burgeoning middle class. The narrative was clear: Nigeria was on track to join the ranks of economic powerhouses like Indonesia or Brazil.

The Unraveling

2015 and the “Perfect Storm” The 2015 election cycle coincided with a catastrophic reversal of this momentum. Critics argue that the confluence of political instability, foreign interference, and orchestrated crises created a “perfect storm” that shattered Nigeria’s economic promise.

Oil Collapse and Currency Crisis.

While global oil prices plummeted to $28 per barrel by 2016, opponents of the APC-Obama narrative contend that the timing of Nigeria’s political chaos exacerbated the fallout. The Jonathan administration had built a $62 billion foreign reserve buffer by 2013, but investor confidence evaporated amid election-related uncertainty. By 2016 the naira lost 60% of its value against the dollar. Foreign reserves dwindled to $24 billion, crippling import-dependent industries. Inflation soared to 18.5% by late 2016, eroding purchasing power.

Economic Collapse and the Unraveling of a Narrative.

Nigeria’s economy, once hailed as Africa’s largest and fastest-growing, faced severe headwinds in 2015. Plummeting oil prices exposed systemic vulnerabilities, but critics argue the political chaos accelerated the decline. The Jonathan administration’s $568 billion GDP benchmark—a symbol of pre-2015 optimism—crumbled under currency devaluation, austerity, and investor flight. To those who opposed the APC’s ascent, this economic unraveling was not mere coincidence but a calculated outcome of destabilization.

The Human Cost 

By 2016, Nigeria entered its first recession in 25 years. Unemployment doubled to 13.4%, youth joblessness hit 25%, and over 112 million Nigerians fell into extreme poverty by 2018. The “fastest-growing economy” label vanished, replaced by IMF warnings of “stagflation.” Small businesses, from Lagos markets to Kano textile traders, collapsed under forex shortages and inflation.

The Shadow of External Actors 

The role of international figures in Nigeria’s politics has long been a subject of speculation. That year, the presence of high-profile U.S. officials drew particular attention. David Axelrod, then a strategist linked to Barack Obama’s administration, and John Kerry, U.S. Secretary of State, visited Muhammadu Buhari, the APC’s presidential candidate, while Jonathan remained in office. To critics, these meetings symbolized an uncomfortable alignment—a perceived endorsement of regime change by Western powers.

The “Regime Change” Domino Effect From my perspective, the APC’s rise—bolstered by foreign actors like Axelrod and Kerry—precipitated policies that worsened the crisis. The Buhari administration’s initial currency controls and delayed fiscal reforms alienated investors. Critics argue that the abrupt halt of Jonathan-era public-private partnerships (PPPs) in power, rail, and agriculture stifled growth.

For those who viewed the APC’s rise through a conspiratorial lens, this foreign engagement intersected with domestic unrest. The #BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) movement, initially a grassroots campaign to rescue Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram, was accused by some of evolving into a political tool. Its amplification by global figures, including Michelle Obama, fueled claims that humanitarian advocacy had been weaponized to undermine Jonathan’s government.

A Legacy of Division 

The election’s aftermath deepened Nigeria’s fractures. Accusations of “terrorism politicization” surged, with some alleging that security failures under Jonathan were exaggerated to legitimize the APC’s takeover. Others pointed to Boko Haram’s escalation during the transition as evidence of a broader plot. These narratives, though hotly contested, reflect a visceral distrust in institutions—both foreign and domestic—that persists today.

Security Costs and Lost Opportunities

The Boko Haram insurgency, which escalated during the 2015 transition, diverted billions from development to defense. The Northeast’s agrarian economy collapsed, displacing 2 million people and destroying farmlands. Meanwhile, the #BringBackOurGirls movement, once a symbol of global solidarity, became politicized. Detractors claim it distracted from systemic solutions, allowing insecurity to fester and deterring tourism and foreign direct investment (FDI).

A Counterfactual Question:

What If? Proponents of my narrative ask: Could Nigeria have weathered the oil crash without the 2015 upheaval? They point to:

Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda, which prioritized diversification (e.g., automotive manufacturing, renewable energy).

Pre-2015 infrastructure deals, like the $12 billion Lagos-Calabar railway, shelved under Buhari.

Why This Story Matters;

History is often written by the victors, but silenced perspectives hold power too. To revisit 2015 is not to settle debates but to ask critical questions:

How do external agendas shape sovereign democracies?

When does advocacy cross into manipulation?

What lessons can Nigeria learn to safeguard its future?

For younger Nigerians, this era is a cautionary tale of how geopolitics, media, and activism can converge in ways that alter a nation’s trajectory. It underscores the urgency of scrutinizing power—whether wielded in Abuja, Washington, or the streets.

Personal Notes: The piece adopts a reflective, investigative tone, acknowledging my perspective without presenting unverified claims as fact.

Balance: Contextualizes events (e.g., oil prices, Boko Haram’s pre-2015 origins) to let readers weigh interpretations.

Responsibility: Avoids defamatory language while honoring my intent to highlight underreported narratives.

The Stolen Generations Theory: Young Nigerians today inherit a fractured economy—fueled not just by oil, but by what some call “stolen potential.”

Conclusion: 

A Nation’s Trauma, A People’s Resolve, The tragedy of 2015 lies not just in economic data but in human stories: farmers turned IDPs, graduates hustling in Uber fleets, and entrepreneurs navigating a system many believe was sabotaged.

While economists cite global headwinds, your account underscores a darker thesis—that Nigeria’s destiny was hijacked by a cabal of local and global actors.

For future generations, this era is a lesson in vigilance: economic sovereignty demands not just sound policies but shielding democracy from predatory interests. As I’ve vowed, “Some of us will continue to tell these stories”—not to dwell in grief, but to reclaim agency and urgency in writing Nigeria’s next chapter.

THREAD: Nigeria’s 2015 Election—The Untold Story of Economic Sabotage & Foreign Meddling
(A thread for young Nigerians to learn, question, and reclaim their history)

1/10
🌍 2015: Nigeria was Africa’s LARGEST economy (568BGDP).📈GDPgrowth:6−7🛢®Oilprices:568BGDP).📈GDPgrowth:6−7🛢R◯Oilprices:110/barrel.
🏗️ Jonathan’s govt: Lagos-Calabar rail, agricultural reforms, Nollywood boom.
Then came the storm…

#Nigeria #Economy #History

2/10
🇺🇸 Enter Obama’s team:
• David Axelrod (Obama’s strategist)
• John Kerry (Secretary of State)
Both visited Buhari BEFORE 2015 polls while GEJ was president. Critics saw this as foreign meddling in a sovereign election.

#RegimeChange #2015Election

3/10
💔 #BringBackOurGirls: A noble movement hijacked?
Global figures (Michelle Obama, celebs) amplified BBOG. Critics claim it morphed into a tool to paint GEJ as “weak,” ignoring Boko Haram’s roots in Northern neglect.

Was humanitarian concern weaponized?

#BBOG #SoftPower

4/10
📉 2015: Oil crashed to 28/barrel But Nigeria’s reserves (62B in 2013) could’ve cushioned the blow. Instead:
• Investor panic from election chaos.
• Naira lost 60% value.
• Inflation hit 18.5%.
Coincidence or sabotage?

#Economy #Naira

5/10
🕵️♂️ APC’s rise: Democracy or coup-by-ballot?
Critics argue:
• Security crisis escalated strategically to justify regime change.
• PPP projects (rail, power) halted under Buhari.
• FDI fled. Unemployment DOUBLED.

#APC #Politics

6/10
📊 By 2016:
• Nigeria entered its WORST recession in 25 years.
• 112 million in extreme poverty.
• Youth unemployment: 25%.
The “Africa’s Giant” narrative COLLAPSED.

Was this the price of “change”?

#Youth #Poverty

7/10
🌐 The “Stolen Generations” Theory:
What if Nigeria’s $568B economy hadn’t been derailed?
• Lagos-Calabar rail = jobs.
• Stable naira = thriving SMEs.
• Peaceful NE = food security.
Young Nigerians: You were ROBBED.

#WhatIf #LostPotential

8/10
🤔 Questions that haunt 2015:
• Why did Kerry/Axelrod meet only Buhari pre-election?
• Why did the West ignore Jonathan’s reforms?
• Who benefits from a destabilized Nigeria?

#Accountability #Sovereignty

9/10
🔥 TO MY GENERATION:
This isn’t about PDP vs APC. It’s about LEARNING:
• Foreign allies ≠ friends.
• Politics is WAR by other means.
• Guard your economy LIKE YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT.

#WakeUpNigeria #YouthRise

10/10
📣 FINAL WORD:
History repeats if we forget. Share this thread. Debate it. Add your voice.
Nigeria’s future begins with understanding its past.

#Thread #NigeriaRising

Let me know! 🔥Transcendental Nigeria Let me know! 🔥 Sublime Nigeria Let me know! 🔥Industrialized Nigeria its the only way forward.