The political bliss or tribulation of politicians in Nigeria reminds me of ‘Humpty Dumpty’ who sat on a wall and never thought he could experience a fatal fall. He had a great fall that not even the king’s horses and all the king’s men could put him together again. That has been the fate of some prominent politicians in Nigeria who oscillate between bouts of tribulations and cycles of bliss. In tribulation, they fall on their faces looking sad, sore, and foolish having obtained political “jewels” from illegitimate means. I believe neither the All Progressive Congress (APC) nor the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which they have converted to political fences on which they sit astride incongruously, can take away the tribulations from them because of being destitute of political ideologies.
Success in any endeavour, including politics, is a covenant and not a promise. In covenant, there is an obligation to perform to have the promise. True democrats don’t seek to be important but aim to be relevant, especially in meeting the legitimate aspirations of the constituencies they represent. With relevance, any politician will be influential and then can win elections with a modicum of effort. As a matter of course, politicians ought to be lamps unto their people’s feet and should shine brighter and brighter to comfort others and not the other way. But unfortunately, many of the Nigerian non-courteous and hard-nosed politicians, some of whom are of high birth but low morals and weak-willed, can ‘screw’ anything and anybody to submission, no matter how rancorous the situation. They are arrogant, aggressive, and violent, which spells doom for anyone who stands their way.
They run the political affairs of this country as though they are masters of the universe. With a sense of manhood and social responsibility, they represent the hardening of the divide between all that had been closely knit in this country. They underestimate the power of sincerity and, to keep hold of their illicit and ungodly affairs, act contrary to trust, humanity, and even their religious and cultural belief. That today, many of them are becoming political ashes is the inevitable destiny of excessive desire to be close to and be violently in love with power. They have made themselves heartily disliked by arrogance, and the consequences speak for themselves.
Following the Edo State gubernatorial election outcome, politicians should understand that leadership in any area of life is about influencing people positively and not just about winning in elections. One is a leader if people look up to him based on his incandescent quality of words and actions. If it is known that politicians care, the electorate will “run through the wall’ and cast their votes conscientiously. The electorate wants to see an exceptional ability in politicians to relate to the ordinary people- the out-of-school boys and girls hawking on the streets, the widows with no means of livelihood, the sick with no hope of recovery, and the aged with no companions. Then, the politicians will not need to sweat from every pore to achieve victory. Unfortunately, some of the ‘highly’ rated political leaders are oblivious that the electorate is getting more enlightened and sophisticated (vote-buying notwithstanding). The days of politically wandering off in random directions are over, and the funeral of political deceit has gone on too long, and the time for the burial is now.
Therefore, it is dangerous for any politician to create a corrosive political atmosphere and still expect victory. Of course, success will be elusive, as evident in the fall from the ‘political grace’ of some once highly rated politicians in recent times. This is terrible and bad news. The bad news is bad news; it does not improve with time. The time has come for the wicked and unrighteous politicians to forsake their ways and return to God, who shall lovingly have mercy and abundantly pardon their political iniquities. The time has come to be positively visible and available to the people in whom the power to elect leaders resides.
Therefore, it should not require any severe admonition to dissuade politicians from being arrogant, vicious, and greedy. Great and ‘democratic’ politicians should learn to prevent their mouths from spewing evil. Being deceivers, vain talkers, and unruly holds no credible path of life and the bitter taste in the mouth of many recently fallen politicians can attest to it. As noted by somebody, “if you want to make a powerful impression, if you want to build a relationship with your people, if you want to stir emotions and generate energy in them, then surprise them, sit down with them, break bread with them, and share a meal” and not act like a demented hen. The path to a praiseworthy political future lies in developing some political attributes, including moral sensitivity, judgment, motivation, and action. Though the development of such attributes thrives more in environments where expectations align with ethical goals, the conduct and the outcome of the just concluded election in Edo State suggest that we can align with that which is good, noble, and edifying. Remember, whether it is political bliss or tribulation, it shall come to pass.
Francis Iyoha
