Political Rigmarole

Political Opportunism

01/04/2023

Misguided Loyalty – The Bane of Undue Influence

01/04/2023

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It is certain, in any case, that ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have. ―James Baldwin.The governance issue has remained a subject of discussion while its ignorance propels many nations towards a failed state. Hilarious as it may sound is the Recycling of Old Politicians; otherwise, ‘garbage in, garbage out’.

Unarguably, “Inclusive governance is the quotidian means by which nations are built and elevated for the sake of a better generation”.By imposing and forcing oneself to be or remain in the corridors of power, such a nation inescapably engulfs itself in Kleptocracy, Fascism, Feudalism, Nepotism or even Racism. “Political corruption,” says John A. Ward, “is the toboggan to national disruption”.

It’s ridiculous but confirmed that “One of the greatest tragedies of our time is that a greater percentage of politicians and ‘leaders’ are akin to the cock which produces sperm that cannot fertilize an egg”. Just like waste materials are being recycled to produce something different or even better, the same way these politicians are being recycled. Alas, they remain shallow and callow-minded politicians who frown at every opposing view or attack those who refuse to ‘toe the line’. With no ‘second-hand value’ (unfeigned legacy), they foster the feudal and ‘born to rule mentality’. In other words, they uphold the statement of George Jean Nathan that “Politics is the diversion of trivial men who, when they succeed at it, become important in the eyes of more trivial men”.

Events have shown that most of the elected representatives turn blind eyes to the plight of the people. In their avarice, they fail to understand that “It’s only the visionary and transformational leaders that will gracefully attain the culmination of a distinguished career in politics”. They are more concerned with how to ‘dip their hands’ into the public coffer or how to form a dynasty, ‘a deep state’ around the corridors of power. Thus, they ‘wrap themselves in the flag’ intending to be revered as oligarchies and nation builders. According to Israelmore Ayivor, “You don’t necessarily need atomic bombs to destroy a nation. Politicians who value their pockets more than the life of citizens always do that every day.” These unscrupulous politicians constantly take advantage of short memory and ignorance of the electorate to nourish them with mirages. They go to the extent of creating propaganda arms for distortion.

“Political extremism,” says John W. Gardner, “involves two prime ingredients: an excessively simple diagnosis of the world’s ills and a conviction that there are identifiable villains behind it all”. Believe it or not, “There is no greater tyranny than that which is perpetrated under the shield of the law and in the name of justice.” ―Charles-Louis de Secondat. Intriguingly, Mr Weed speaking on the political ingenuity of Abraham Lincoln, aptly puts it, “His mind is at once philosophical and practical. He sees all who go there, hears all they have to say, talks freely with everybody, reads whatever is written to him.” The above expression is the quintessence of a visionary and transformational leader who achieved success through wisdom and inclusiveness thereby capturing the assertion of Jacqueline Carey, “If you will not die for us, you cannot ask us to die for you”.

This recycling of old politicians continues to set nations two steps backwards. Unfortunately, most of the electorate remain loyal to them, probably because they’ve been brainwashed, ignoring the fact that” Loyalty to an unjust cause is a perversion of honour”. ― Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson. Their persistence to impose their candidates on the electorates to become kingmakers or, for some, juicy returns have become their holy grail. With ‘divide and rule,’ they use ‘state apparatus’ (legally and illegally) to overawe dissenting voices, those seen as potential threats to their political ambitions or ‘ultimate goals’. In fact, “You can tell a bully from a leader by how they treat people who disagree with them.” ― Miles K. Davis

REFLECTION: “When a citizen is being hauled up for opposing an incumbent government’s ‘unpopular policy’, charged to court, and later discharged and acquitted by a court of competent jurisdiction. Who is going to foot the legal bill? The incumbent from his pocket or the taxpayers? Something is not right”.

It’s absurd and disheartening that these ‘out of the ark politicians’ sly old foxes have destroyed the fabric of the nation’s institutions. These people are supposed to have retired from active politics and leadership positions and sit back to leisure with their grandchildren. Still, they occupy the most strategic and sensitive positions in the government here. They’re the decision-makers, even for the unborn generations. These people who drift off at every official programme except at ‘reimbursement’ or dining occasions are callous in nature and inept in action. Lamentably just like Nero, “they fiddle while Rome burns”.The bottom line is that they’re stumbling blocks and liabilities to the nations while in the corridors of power.

Unfortunately, they’re entrusted with the future of the generation in dire need of transformation; hence, the more reason they should be shown the exit door out of politics. One of their strategies is using the catchphrase, ‘Leaders of Tomorrow,’ to hoodwink the gullible. It’s stimulating to realize that the few dissents and spirited individuals (youths inclusive), those who work around the clock,’ who believed that these sit tight politicians are ‘dogs in the manger’ have maintained that “It is high time we accepted the fact that our fathers are the leaders of yesterday so that we may be accorded the privilege of leaders of today thereafter pave the way for our children as the leaders of tomorrow.”

But come to think of it, these octogenarians and nonagenarians who have outlived their usefulness in politics (whose children are half a century year old and above, whose grandchildren are in the Universities or have left the universities) have proved irredeemable. It can be inferred that the absence of a genuine legacy and a mentorship ethos precludes the possibility of a viable replacement. Jack Welch holds the same opinion when he says, “When you were made a leader, you weren’t given a crown; you were given the responsibility to bring out the best in others.” However, because they are not futuristic, they resort to manipulation whenever they fail to inspire or influence people. This is the reason they rent a crowd to sing their praises because they value followers instead of purpose, those followers that they can’t even give a sense of significance to their own life. Sadly, they brainwash their followers to perceive privileges as a right.

Needless to say, “when nations are inveterately ruled by the Methuselahs, generations are perpetually starved of the wisdom of the ‘Solomons'”. Because these ‘Deadwoods’ are visionless, the only idea at their disposal is giving the electorates’ crumbs from their table’ what they termed incentives, smoke and mirrors meant to cage them. They, in turn, bent on stealing the hope and future of the country, making their surroundings an avalanche of national cake. Regrettably, “If you look at history, innovation doesn’t come just from giving people incentives; it comes from creating environments where their ideas can connect. “—Steven Johnson.

A lot is happening in the world today regarding leadership and governance. Unsurprisingly, Stockholm syndrome has come to stay, ‘an age-long paradox’ that is ‘alive and kicking’ because “those who seem to be well-informed are ill-advised”. This Stockholm syndrome has eaten deep into the fabric of our society. In fact, “It’s ironic that in our world today, irrespective of colour, creed or status, those who are envisaged to lead the way are mostly the first to be led astray”.Dare to challenge your thinking by tackling the most demanding question? Little wonder, Martin Luther King Jr. laments, “Rarely do we find men who willingly engage in hard, solid thinking. There is an almost universal quest for easy answers and half-baked solutions. Nothing pains some people more than having to think.”

When people are conditioned to believe that an abnormal situation is normal by being desensitized from the reality on the ground, they still opt for the status quo ante in the face of any iota of illumination. They tend to lack the avidity for reformation and the will to embrace sensitization.

To the kleptocrats, do take note of this: “The wine that is insufficient for the entire clan should not intoxicate one person.” African Proverb.

Stay tuned for discussion

March 31, 2023 March 31, 2023Categories