Author Abdul Mahmud Analyzes Jonathan Ishaku’s Thesis on the Decline of Northern Political Hegemony in Nigeria

Abdul Mahmud explores Jonathan Ishaku's analysis of Nigeria's failing political order and the rise of a post-hegemonic era defined by legitimacy crises.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 23, 2026, 3:58 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Peoples Gazette

The Erosion of Traditional Political Authority

Nigeria has reached a critical juncture characterized by the gradual fading of long-standing political structures that once defined its national identity. According to Abdul Mahmud, the forthcoming work by Jonathan Ishaku argues that the country is currently navigating a post-hegemonic moment where the authority of the traditional northern elite has significantly waned. This shift is not the result of a singular catastrophic event but rather a cumulative loss of institutional credibility and public trust. As the old mechanisms of power fail to command the same level of obedience, the nation finds itself in a state of suspension, moving away from a familiar past toward an undefined and highly contested future.

Structural Failures of the Oligarchic Order

The historical stability of the Nigerian state was built upon a narrow circle of elites who maintained a remarkable continuity in governance across both military and civilian eras. Mahmud notes that this arrangement functioned through a blend of strategic patronage and symbolic unity that successfully prevented a total systemic breakdown for decades. However, the inherent contradictions of this oligarchic system eventually deepened as economic disparities grew and corruption became more transparent. The state, once perceived as a dominant central force, now appears fragmented because it can no longer deliver on its fundamental promises of security and equity to a disillusioned citizenry.

Navigating the Complexities of an Interregnum

Drawing on the philosophical framework of Antonio Gramsci, the analysis describes the current Nigerian condition as an interregnum, a period where an old order is dying while a new one struggles to be born. In this vacuum of stable authority, various unconventional and often destabilizing forces have emerged to challenge the status-of-the-state. These actors range from civil society and vocal youth movements to more destructive elements like regional bandits and insurgent groups. This state of uncertainty persists because there is no longer a dominant framework capable of containing these diverse interests, leading to a landscape defined by constant friction and the search for new forms of representation.