It was quite interesting and curious looking at an old post-graduate project in which a research student tried to propound what he described as King-I-be syndrome as an academic theory. But for the vehement stand of an external examiner, they would have been adopted into the academic lexicon. Even though the idea was sound and valid, an objection came from the fact that the “King-I-be acronym could be interpreted to mean a name: Kingibe, which was capable of raising some dust. And alternative of Macbethan theory or syndrome was suggested by the external examiner.
Obsession can be explained to mean an irrepressible, continuous urge, inclination or interest for something, which can get to the point of vaulting ambition bent on getting that thing at any cost. Propensity can also be explained as an in-born tendency or inclination towards a particular behavioural pattern. It is needful to note that obsession and propensity have little or nothing to do with hubris which is a great but unreasonable pride which forms the basis of what an individual aspires to do or become. People usually have some strong drives as impetus for what they do. This is quite healthy.
In a beer parlour talk, someone was heard describing one foremost political aspirant for the position of a president, as “having an obsessive propensity”, in spite of his age, health and wealth. It may require effective thinking rather than a smart ability to play the game of squash, to preside over the affairs of a country. Yet, the task of leading a large and complex nation like Nigeria, makes unusual demands from anyone undertaking such a responsibility.
Having an obsessive propensity to lead a large number of people is hardly the same thing as being able to carry out the demands of leadership effectively. What we find quite common is that people who get into positions of power and authority via obsessive propensity as a driving impetus, soon become overwhelmed by the position, after getting there. In the case of Nigeria as a nation, the situation is more complex than would-be presidential aspirants often assume, because, it takes more than intellectual acumen to be a successful leader. Neither does success in business and economic engagements translate into an effective political leadership.
An ex-president of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, was quoted as suggesting that it would take a rebel to be able to lead Nigeria out of our present quagmire. Such a “rebel-leader” would fail if he adopts the macho or military temperament in the task of leading Nigerians. Neither would an academia, with a hollow knowledge of conceit, fit into the task of effective governance of a nation yearning for meaning. As for the ecclesia, please count them out, until they can come out of the Tower of Babel. A paradym shift is inevitable!
Any activity or engagement dominated by persons with obsessions and propensities, is most likely to end up in a failure. Obsessions and propensities can be described as hyper-active frame of mind, rather than a normal or stable one. Studies in human brain activities reveal some details which point towards a mass derailment whereby a majority of humans have abnormal brains. A part of the abnormality manifests in obsessions, propensities and other aberrations in behaviours, pursuits, lifestyles and worldviews. Why, for example, is there a wide-spread use of hard drugs, globally?
One serious danger which humans face currently is the intrusion of the minds of individuals by some external entities, radiations and energies; a phenomenon made more possible by electronic media. There are situations where external entities take possession of the body and brains of individuals in order to work through such persons in some visible ways. People who offer themselves for such abuses or intrusion are usually people who take substances which put their brains in unstable state. Those who dabble into cults and fetish activities also expose themselves into possible invasion or intrusion.
Double-life phenomenon or a situation where an individual dangles between normalcy and abnormality alternatively, arises from the brain of an individual being occupied by some alien forces. What is meant here by alien forces include discarnate human souls and various electronic-projected radiations or energy. In all such cases an individual would have made his lifestyle and thinking pattern available for an intrusion by some energy similar to his longing or activity. No one is exposed to such dangers arbitrarily, unless a hand of fellowship is extended to diabolical forces.
It is quite common to find people who are not themselves from time to time, resulting from having to accommodate an alien entity, via the brain. Thus from time to time, two different entities compete to impress their volition, namely: the rightful owner of the body and an intruder. This situation may be mild or severe, depending on the strength or weakness of each of the competitors, but in extreme cases such persons are described as insane. Psychiatric cases are of different categories but fundamentally the brain of the patient harbours an alien entity.
Obsessions, propensities and brains being taken over by alien forces, exhibit certain features which can be regular or intermittent. Firstly the individual would rarely know that he has an abnormality which demands psychiatric intervention, especially when the cases are mild. Secondly such persons often succeed in what they do or aspire to achieve, largely because of the bravado and confidence which they exhibit. If they are politicians and rich, they have a large number of followers, admirers and errand boys who can do anything for a fee. Thus corruption spreads in society.
A peculiar danger arising from those whose cases of mental aberrations have grown to the climax, is the possibility of misleading, corrupting and laying foundation for a derailment of the collective consciousness of an unsuspecting populace. Under the cover of immunity, a number of highly placed people in strategic positions but with various forms of obsessive propensities, can plunge a nation into irreparable misfortunes. Is it not possible that a nation can be plunged into a war by leaders whose minds and brains are obsessed with various propensities?
Since birds of same feathers flock together, is it not likely that the peculiar temperament and inclinations of a nation’s leader would result in the assemblage of men and women of similar nature as managers of affairs of the nation? Like an aphrodesiac, vaulting ambition and obsessic propensities serving as the impetus and ladder to greatness, can become such an equivocator that can provoke the desire but can also take away the performance. It would take more than vaulting ambition and obsessive propensities to lead Nigeria out of what we experience currently. Exemplary leaders are usually unobtrusive, not obsessive.

By: Bright Amirize

Dr Amirize is a retired lecturer from the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt.