THE TRANSIENT NATURE OF POLITICAL POWER SHOULD MAKE OUR PRESENT POLITICIANS TO ACT WITH CAUTION
February 19, 2021 | News
I merely shock my head in awe, at the awareness of the temporary nature of everything in this life, when I saw a picture online of Prof. Wole Soyinka and Gen. Yakubu Gowon (Rtd), with all smiles as they held each other hands on shoulder to shoulder.
THE TRANSIENT NATURE OF POLITICAL POWER SHOULD MAKE OUR PRESENT POLITICIANS TO ACT WITH CAUTION
I merely shock my head in awe, at the awareness of the temporary nature of everything in this life, when I saw a picture online of Prof. Wole Soyinka and Gen. Yakubu Gowon (Rtd), with all smiles as they held each other hands on shoulder to shoulder. With an inscription that say: "See Old Foes, Wole Soyinka 86yrs and Yakubu Gowon 86yrs reconciled. Gowon jailed Soyinka from 1967-1969 for his pro-Biafra sympathy and actions. Life is all about forgiveness and reconciliation."
Though, both men are old now, but it apparent that Gowon must have realized along the way that political power is not permanent. And for Soyinka, he would have realized that there is actually nothing in this life worth having bad blood for towards another. To me, I believe it should be a lesson to all the present crop of politicians across all levels in the country. And for them to be reminded that political power is not permanent, but temporary.
Today President Muhammadu Buhari may be regarded as the most powerful person in Nigeria, and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State for instance, may be regarded as the most powerful person in Delta State. But all of this is very temporary.
I am sure back then, when Gowon was still in power as Military Head of State who ruled with DECREES, he never thought that one day, he will have to become an ordinary Nigerian citizen who will eventually meet all those he might have wronged or stepped on their toes. Am sure back then, he never knew that one day, he will have to face and live with all bad decisions he must have made while in Government. Only that this time around, he will be doing so as an ordinary person. I am certain these thoughts never really crossed his mind then when he was in power making DECREES that are often not popular or in the interest of the Nigerian people.
Let this be a reminder to all Nigerian political leaders presently in Government at all levels, they will all live to face every wrong and ill-advised decision they deliberately make today. Hence, I would advise them that, this “Politics of bitterness” and “greed for political power no matter the damage/harm it will cause to others” – has to all stop! All those who kill (through any means), blackmail, hire goons/hoodlums, cheat and commit all kinds of atrocities just to grab political power, especially as many of them have started preparing for the 2023 general elections, should be reminded that “POLITICAL POWER IS TRANSIENT AND TEMPORARY”. No politician can rule a State or the entire country more than eight years in Nigeria. So, why on all the fuss and ‘do-or-die’ disposition just to be in the Government space?
Though, they may think that they will rule forever, but no one really does. They are ignorant of the fact that they will pass the shame/seeds of their evil deeds today, to their children, grandchildren and unborn children. And those who still praise them for practically doing nothing, just because of what they are gaining from them now, should also be reminded that they too will also reap what they plant. Any politician that hates constructive criticism, should not be seen as a leader with the needed character traits to bring about good governance. It is as simple as that.
Zik Gbemre.
February 19, 2021
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
I merely shock my head in awe, at the awareness of the temporary nature of everything in this life, when I saw a picture online of Prof. Wole Soyinka and Gen. Yakubu Gowon (Rtd), with all smiles as they held each other hands on shoulder to shoulder. With an inscription that say: "See Old Foes, Wole Soyinka 86yrs and Yakubu Gowon 86yrs reconciled. Gowon jailed Soyinka from 1967-1969 for his pro-Biafra sympathy and actions. Life is all about forgiveness and reconciliation."
Though, both men are old now, but it apparent that Gowon must have realized along the way that political power is not permanent. And for Soyinka, he would have realized that there is actually nothing in this life worth having bad blood for towards another. To me, I believe it should be a lesson to all the present crop of politicians across all levels in the country. And for them to be reminded that political power is not permanent, but temporary.
Today President Muhammadu Buhari may be regarded as the most powerful person in Nigeria, and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State for instance, may be regarded as the most powerful person in Delta State. But all of this is very temporary.
I am sure back then, when Gowon was still in power as Military Head of State who ruled with DECREES, he never thought that one day, he will have to become an ordinary Nigerian citizen who will eventually meet all those he might have wronged or stepped on their toes. Am sure back then, he never knew that one day, he will have to face and live with all bad decisions he must have made while in Government. Only that this time around, he will be doing so as an ordinary person. I am certain these thoughts never really crossed his mind then when he was in power making DECREES that are often not popular or in the interest of the Nigerian people.
Let this be a reminder to all Nigerian political leaders presently in Government at all levels, they will all live to face every wrong and ill-advised decision they deliberately make today. Hence, I would advise them that, this “Politics of bitterness” and “greed for political power no matter the damage/harm it will cause to others” – has to all stop! All those who kill (through any means), blackmail, hire goons/hoodlums, cheat and commit all kinds of atrocities just to grab political power, especially as many of them have started preparing for the 2023 general elections, should be reminded that “POLITICAL POWER IS TRANSIENT AND TEMPORARY”. No politician can rule a State or the entire country more than eight years in Nigeria. So, why on all the fuss and ‘do-or-die’ disposition just to be in the Government space?
Though, they may think that they will rule forever, but no one really does. They are ignorant of the fact that they will pass the shame/seeds of their evil deeds today, to their children, grandchildren and unborn children. And those who still praise them for practically doing nothing, just because of what they are gaining from them now, should also be reminded that they too will also reap what they plant. Any politician that hates constructive criticism, should not be seen as a leader with the needed character traits to bring about good governance. It is as simple as that.
Zik Gbemre.
February 19, 2021
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes