From a trenchant analysis of the power play in Nigeria, it was discovered that a majority of the players, particularly the political class, are ignorant of the basic virtues of hard work, integrity, diligence, gratitude, self-discipline, belief in liberty, religious freedom and equality of opportunity upon which society was founded.
And since these ‘do-or-die’ players cannot ensure our indispensable virtues, they can at least stop weakening them for our children and children’s children!
Permit me to be controversial. As a Prince of Ekitiland who was tormented by the recent eruption of an Egba high chief and former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, against some traditional rulers in Oyo State, may I ask: at what point, and under what condition did the cherished institutions of Yorubaland, seemingly deep-rooted and impregnable, especially during the days of my late father, Oba David Opeyemi Adeyeye of Ise-Ekiti and the like of Oba Ademulegun Adesida of Akure, Oba Adesoji Aderemi, Oba Aladesanmi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Ladapo Ademola of Eqbaland, etc., suddenly become worthless in the sight of Nigerian politicians?
I agree that in some societies with multiple moderating institutions like ours, the Chief Executive usually has considerable power. But then, no rational politician would take umbrage at the traditional rulers for performing their sacred duties at this time, particularly in Yorubaland where the government has failed woefully in its constitutional assignment.
Ha! after examining the Oke-Ogun episode with a moral microscope, we have now discovered that it is extremely dangerous to allow people who govern by impulse to rule in a normal society because when an autocratic politician enters into a gathering in a desperate effort to be recognised and commands crowned monarchs to rise up like elementary school pupils, the society is in danger. That is why we must quickly try to put moral chains on those voodoo politicians in our midst.
Also, as He warned the Hebrews, the God of Old Testament has a way of telling arrogant politicians: ‘Do not play with me, Babylon; remember that I am the God Almighty, the only King of Kings, and if you don’t stop your dangerous oppression against the sacred monarchs in the land, I will break the backbone of your power!”
Of course, we cannot blame those who were expecting too much from Nigerian politicians because a lot more has been given to them by society. According to the Lester Crown Professor in the Practice of Management at Yale School of Management, Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, after studying the leadership patterns of some African Chief Executives, Heads of State and governors, discovered that instead of their leaving office correlating with management culture, they were all correlated with their quest for immortal status.
For example, to those who have never tasted the reward of political leadership here in Nigeria, the disgraceful third term episode and other political crimes in 16 years of the Peoples Democratic Party administration may be very hard to fathom. And it may also seem strange to discover that among Nigerian politicians, those most adamant about recognition are the bunch of political opportunists who always love to be first everywhere without corresponding commitment to moral excellence and service to humanity that is devoid of corruption, oppression and bitterness.
