By Isaac Asabor
In today’s Nigerian society, every politician comes across as someone that seeks for elective or appointive leadership position merely to put food in his or her mouth, and to enrich himself or herself, but not to serve the people he or she pledged to serve as hypocritically mouthed during electioneering. Given the “do-or-die “attitude a typical politician today cut the picture of a magician amid the air of audacity which he exudes when campaigning for an elective office ahead of an election, one would think such politician is a magician from the way he would speak about bettering the economy when voted for in the position he campaigns for.
Insightfully enough, Nigerians were recently upbraided for erroneously seeing politicians as Magicians. Really? But an average politician in this part of the world usually sound like a magician whenever the opportunity to sell his or her leadership qualities to the electorates.
Given the foregoing graphical illustration, it will not be contextually out of place to opine that not a few political leaders across all spheres of Nigeria’s political space are in politics merely to criminally enrich themselves, even as they, in most cases, end their tenures as underperformers to the detriment of the people and the economy. In fact, some of them are merely in the race not to perform but to accumulate wealth and gain recognition or fame, or better still to fulfil their life ambition.
Preposterous enough, when a typical politician is interviewed by the press in order to ascertain from him what actually motivated him to leave his profession or business for politics, the most likely response is either “I want to serve my people”, or “My people dragged me into politics”, or “I have been involved in politics right from my student union days”. In some cases, a typical politician will say “I have the passion to lead”. But is fraudulently enriching themselves and misgoverning that really their passion?
In fact a lot of importance is given to partisan politics in Nigeria as society believes anyone that enters into politics will automatically become wealthy and successful after his or her tenure. If I may ask none of them in particular in this context, “Before God and man, were you truly inspired by the passion to lead to be in politics or you went into politics to enrich yourself?”
In today’s Nigerian society, every politician is competing for profitable political position, even as they are always in the race to be appointive or elected into such position. Thus, it is not an exaggeration to say in this context that Nigeria’s political history is replete with a situation where a former presidential aspirant is appointed as a Special Assistant while a former governor would be grateful to be offered “Any available Appointment.” But is that really their passion to serve as they are wont to confess whenever they are interviewed by the press?”
To bluntly put it, without resorting to dirtying anyone’s reputation, indications are rife that political leaders of today care more about financial security than the good leadership they claim they are passionate about. While interacting with people, I often observe that only a few politicians have the so-called passion most politicians hypocritically claim they have whereas innermost in their mind is the undue aspiration to chase a ‘juicy political position’ and a ‘good pay cheque and perks’.
As a diligent student of Peter Drucker who asserted that “Management is doing things right; Leadership is doing the right things”, I am not oblivious of the fact that a political leader is a public servant who works for the betterment of the society, and that he or she is elected by the members of the society by casting votes. Not only that, a political leader requires ‘statesmanship’; as opposed to just being a ‘politician’, which means having the integrity and willingness to stand up for what is right, even if it means resigning a position in government or losing an election.
However, it is sad to note that political leaders of today often feel pressured by their families, society, and peers to do the opposite when given the opportunity to serve. If they don’t, they are usually looked down upon as not being serious about ‘making it’ in life. Thus, it is shocking how failing in not amassing wealth while in political offices is often equated with failure in life.
Given the foregoing backdrop, it is sad that political career have always been given more importance in our society than other careers such as academic careers. If you are a Journalist, lecturer, a rank and file civil servant, a writer, etc. only a few in the community appreciate you.
Other ‘non-lucrative’ fields often face a lot more challenges than politics. Many a people work hard in his or her life to become a politician just to get that recognition among people, even if it means falsifying date of birth, certificates and even state of origin.
At this juncture, it is germane to reverberate the words of Mark Skousen, a professional economist, financial advisor, university professor and author of more than 25 books on economics, personal finance, and investment who says, “We shall never change our political leaders until we change the people who elect them.”
Against the foregoing backdrop, it is expedient to ask, “Should political followers continue to vote corrupt leaders to power or vote for patriotic leaders with passion to serve?” The reason for asking the foregoing question cannot be farfetched as I have for the umpteenth time heard people say “Corruption in a nation is the problem of followers” or “every nation deserves the leadership it gets”.
In fact, to opine that the problem of leadership in Nigeria today is deep rooted in followership cannot be pooh-poohed by mere wave of the hands as political followers in this part of the world are prone to voting leaders to power base on primordial sentiments that cut across party, ethnic and religious affiliations. Not only that, they go as far as defending political leaders that have been found wanting in their qualifications and integrity. Without sounding sanctimonious in this context, permit me to urge Nigerians that there is need to change their orientation about the kind of supporting hands they extend to political leaders with questionable credentials and ability, skill and knowledge to govern.
In the same vein, as citizens, we must compel our leaders to do what is right if we must get it right because the leaders emerge from the followers. Still making reference to the word of wisdom of Mark Skousen, it is expedient to recall in this context that “We shall never change our political leaders until we change the people who elect them.” Hence it is important as Nigerians to elect the right leader who can pave the way for good governance.”
