“No Politician Is Worth Your Disappearance”: The Sobering Lesson from Dadiyata’s Case and the Cost of Blind Political Loyalty in Nigeria
“You are only a useful idiot.”
Those words may sound harsh, but they capture a painful reality many young Nigerians must confront. For years, I have cautioned young people against staking their identities, reputations, and even their safety on behalf of politicians—men and women who, in many cases, will not stand for them when it truly matters.
Political participation is a constitutional right. Civic engagement is necessary for democracy. But blind loyalty to individuals—especially in a system as volatile and transactional as Nigerian politics—can come at a devastating cost.
Let us discuss the case of Dadiyata.
Who Was Dadiyata?
Abubakar Idris Dadiyata, popularly known as Dadiyata, was a social media influencer and political commentator from Kaduna State. He was widely known for his strong criticism of former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai. At the same time, he was an unapologetic supporter of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and a visible member of the Kwankwasiyya movement.
The red cap of the Kwankwasiyya movement fit his head indeed. His loyalty was loud, visible, and unwavering.
Dadiyata used social media as a political battleground. He defended his preferred political figures passionately and attacked their perceived opponents with equal intensity. In today’s digital age, where political narratives are shaped on Twitter (now X), Facebook, and Instagram, voices like his carry weight. He was not silent. He was not neutral. He was committed.
Then, in August 2019, he disappeared in Kaduna under deeply troubling circumstances. According to multiple reports from credible Nigerian and international media outlets at the time, he was allegedly abducted by unidentified individuals from his residence. Since then, his whereabouts remain unknown.
The Silence That Followed
When Dadiyata vanished, many expected that those he publicly defended would rise immediately and unequivocally to demand accountability. Leadership, after all, is tested in moments of crisis—not during campaign seasons.
Political movements thrive on loyalty. They demand emotional investment, online battles, public defense, and sometimes personal risk. So when one of the most vocal defenders disappears, the expectation is that the machinery will move with urgency.
Yet, the response appeared muted.
The intensity that often characterizes political rallies and campaign speeches seemed absent. The same vigor used to mobilize supporters did not translate into a sustained, visible, institutional demand for answers in Dadiyata’s case.
Civil society groups, activists, and concerned citizens continued to ask questions. Hashtags trended. Protests were organized. Human rights organizations called for investigations. But from the political quarters where Dadiyata’s loyalty once stood firm, there was no sustained, high-profile pressure campaign matching the intensity of his devotion.
That silence speaks volumes.
El-Rufai’s Remarks and the Questions That Remain
In recent times, Nasir El-Rufai made remarks on national television that many interpreted as offering insight into Dadiyata’s disappearance. The statements reignited public interest in the case and renewed calls for accountability.
Yet, despite those remarks, there have been no publicly known arrests. No definitive closure. No transparent official explanation of what happened.
If a former governor suggests knowledge—directly or indirectly—about the circumstances surrounding a disappearance of this magnitude, the public deserves clarity. Nigeria’s Constitution guarantees the right to life and personal liberty. When a citizen disappears under suspicious conditions, especially one known for political activism, it is not a partisan issue. It is a national issue.
To know, based on public statements, that someone might have knowledge of what happened—and to see no decisive institutional action—raises serious concerns about accountability, transparency, and the rule of law.
If anyone has credible information regarding Dadiyata’s whereabouts, it is a moral and civic obligation to provide it to appropriate authorities. The burden of leadership includes responsibility, not selective silence.
A Brutal Lesson for Politically Active Youth
This is where the real lesson lies.
Nigeria has one of the youngest populations in the world. Millions of young people are politically aware, digitally savvy, and passionately engaged. Social media has become a battlefield of ideologies, where young Nigerians defend “their” politicians with ferocity.
But here is the uncomfortable truth: politics is often transactional.
Political structures are built around interests, alliances, negotiations, and power retention. When something happens to a loyal supporter, the machine rarely stops. It recalibrates. It replaces. Another loyal voice steps in. The cycle continues.
That is not cynicism; it is realism.
This is not about silencing political participation. Democracy requires citizens who engage, criticize, organize, and vote. It is about wisdom. It is about understanding the difference between supporting policies and worshipping personalities.
Too many young Nigerians tie their identities to political figures. They defend them online daily. They insult critics. They risk arrest. They damage relationships. Some even risk physical safety.
And when crisis comes?
The political class moves on.
Build Institutions, Not Personalities
The deeper issue is structural. Nigeria’s political culture has long been personality-driven rather than institution-driven. Loyalty is often to individuals, not to transparent systems or enduring democratic values.
Young people must learn to build and strengthen institutions—civil society organizations, advocacy platforms, community initiatives, and policy-driven movements—rather than centering their political lives around individuals.
Policies matter. Systems matter. Laws matter.
Personalities change.
If you believe in education reform, support education reform. If you believe in economic diversification, advocate for it. If you believe in anti-corruption, push for transparent processes and institutional safeguards.
But never surrender your safety, dignity, or future for any politician’s ambition.
The Value of Your Life
Let this be clear: your life is more valuable than any political career.
No political appointment.
No campaign victory.
No party slogan.
No red cap.
…is worth your disappearance.
Do not love any politician more than your life.
Do not love any party more than your life.
Engage intelligently. Criticize boldly. Vote responsibly. Hold leaders accountable. But never confuse political participation with personal sacrifice for individuals who may not publicly acknowledge your risk when it counts.
Accountability Is Not Optional
Dadiyata’s case remains unresolved. That alone is troubling.
In any functioning democracy, the disappearance of a vocal political commentator should trigger sustained institutional action—transparent investigations, periodic public updates, and clear communication. The longer such cases remain unresolved, the more public trust erodes.
Accountability is not a favor politicians grant. It is a duty they owe.
And citizens must demand it—not as party loyalists, but as Nigerians.
Final Word
“You are only a useful idiot.”
That phrase is not an insult. It is a warning.
Do not reduce yourself to a disposable tool in political warfare. Do not trade your safety for digital applause. Do not mortgage your future for a politician’s temporary power.
Participate in politics, yes.
Be informed, yes.
Organize, yes.
But protect your life. Protect your career. Protect your future.
Because when the noise fades and the campaigns end, you must still live with the consequences.
And no politician—no matter how powerful—is worth your disappearance.
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