Nigeria, Sept. 4 -- In a nation gripped by tension and political intrigue, even the simple act of celebrating birthdays and anniversaries of public figures can feel like a forgotten ritual. Yet, amidst the noise of political realignments and verbal skirmishes - such as the recent fallout between former allies Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and Mallam Nuhu Ribadu over national security and 2027 calculations - came a moment of quiet significance: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu personally penned a heartfelt birthday tribute to Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Was I surprised? Not entirely. For over a year, speculation has swirled around the nature of the relationship between Tinubu, the former Lagos governor, and Shettima, the former Borno governor. Rum...