Use And Abuse Of Political Powers

The dream of acquiring political powers in Nigeria has no doubt assumed a dangerous shift. The list of those with a high propensity and desperation to acquire and control political powers now include all manner of personalities; politicians, academics, businessmen, housewives, medicines, sycophants, “agboros”, lunatics among others. The reasons for this psychopathic obsession and unbridled penchant for power is not far-fetched.

It is due to the fact that a political office in Nigeria gives a free hand to the occupant to syphone task payers money with relative ease. It is also the shortest means of bidding farewell to denigrating poverty, as demonstrated through the magical measures through which most weilders of political power rise from asthetic models to become exhibitionist millionaires.

I remember listening keenly to two motor park touts last December, discussing the prospect and fortunes of the upcoming local government elections in Rivers State. Tucked in a heated debate, they openly engrossed their bid to contest for councillorship in their respective wards. Their point of discussion was laden with assurances of victory at the poll based on high profile patronages, and tacit endorsement by their political godfathers. Their conviction however portrayed great ignorance over the point that such positions actually go with responsibilities. They counted on their past roles in previous elections and sealed their conviction that it was time to be rewarded. They also vowed with their blood to dismantle any force that may stand against their ambition. Then I retracted and boarded    a vehicle to my destination, to avoid any attention from the touts, and the episode rankled in my memory throughout the journey.

In    my reverie, I wondered what was  happening to Nigeria’s political future.   It dawned on me that the two miscreants  may not have opted to test the murky  political terrain of the country with such assurance, without an antecedent that is most amenable to the ways of political  acquisition and emergence. Their hope of emerging as councilors in the forthcoming  election is thus based on affiliation with some apple carts, or the sheer underpinning of some political godfathers whom they have dutifully served or allegedly delivered in previous elections, through the armour   of poli-thug violence.

For this class of Political underdogs, wielding the right capacity for managerial and administrative competence is immaterial. Threading the familiar  path of the country’s political history, they are rest assured of victory through a well planned power relay under appellations and political concepts  such as, zoning, loyalty, party interest among others.

This upsurge in political  declivity is an  indication that our country is doomed to the loath of crass materialism, with all categories of scoundrels let loose on our society as leaders.

The pre-requisite of securing elective positions is no longer based on ability but affinity to the emerging ruling class, not minding the mental state of the personalities involved, morally depraved persons, and half baked nitwits have been handpicked by political parties to occupy political offices to perpetuate deceit and remit the spoils of such offices to their godfathers at the expense of the masses who are hapless spectators.

With the awesome display of power by political leaders, the citizens can hardly query those in authority and make them accountable for their  deeds  and misdeeds. The will of the people has been circumscribed by power and the widening gulf that exist between them and their political leaders.

Clad in perpetual  servitude and  unmitigated poverty, the people act as starving spectators at the stupendous  display of opulence  and ravishing grandeaur  of the political  class.

Shakespeare described a man drowning in power as such; “But man, proud man dressed  in a little brief authority, most ignorant  of what he is most assured, his glassy essence, like an angry ape, plays such fantastic  trick before high heavens as makes the angels weep”.

The fleeting pleasure  of power if not put under  decisive control can blur the vision of governance and render the person  in  control to be swayed and  hulled in the oriental discharge of self gratification as against the collective will of the people. When one acquires power there are always tempting voices  and false  encomiums  that brandish you as the greatest one in the world. But one must be considerate to listen to the one voice that revolts against  such meretricious  inducement. The first voices are mostly selfish appeals and bloated ego that tend to drive one towards inordinate  ambitions and eccentricities.

The latter builds  trust and commands  the confidence of the populace. According  Lord Acton, “power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely”.

It is pertinent to note  that most leaders who arrogated too much powers to themselves, and got deluded to sanction the determined will of the people  were madvertendly conflagrated in their romance  with power.

Abacha, Hitler, Mobutu, Samuel Doe, Bokassa, sadam Hussein, Idi Amin, and most recently Ghadafi, among  so many other madmen of history, are case studies.

In the final analysis, power may justly be compared to a great river; while kept within its bound it is both powerful and useful, but when  it overflows its banks, it is then too  impetous  to be put under control. It bears down on the ford and brings destruction and desolation whereever it comes. If this is the nature of power, let us then do our duty like wise compatriots using our utmost case and concern to promote the ideals of social justice and democratic liberties, noting that absolute power   belongs to the people.

Taneh Beemene