Power as the saying goes is sweet! The powerful have everything at their beck and call and all the necessary attention; to the extent that some, even go as far as oppressing the less privileged. One could be powerful by becoming a leader of a country, state, local government, clan, church head etc. As we all know, everything that has an advantage also have its disadvantage and the craving to be powerful at all cost could sometimes lead to one’s death. A typical example of this was demonstrated in the Biblical story of Absalom and his father David in the book of 2nd Samuel. Absalom in his desperation to rule over Israel plotted against his father but ended up dying.
Before anyone takes on a leadership role, they should ask themselves, “Why do I want to lead?” and “What’s the purpose of my ambition to lead?” These questions are simple to ask, but finding the real answers may take decades. If the honest answers are power, prestige, and money, leaders are at risk of relying on external gratification for fulfillment. There is nothing wrong with desiring these outward symbols as long as they are combined with a deeper desire to serve something greater than oneself.
Leaders whose goal is the quest for power over others, unlimited wealth, or the fame that comes with success tend to look to others to gain satisfaction, and often appear self-centered and egotistical.
A clear case of a very desperate bid to rule as we all know is the recent development in Adamawa state where its over ambitious sacked Governor Umaru Fintiri, has asked the National Judicial Council, (NJC), to investigate Justice Adeniyi Ademola over his judgment that ousted him from office.
You will recall that Justice Ademola of the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja had about 12 days ago ordered that the former deputy governor of Adamawa state, Mr. Bala Ngilari, be sworn in as the substantive governor of the state.
He held that the alleged resignation of Ngilari on July 14, 2014 was invalid, null and void as it breached the provisions of sections 306(1), (2) and (5) of the 1999 Constitution because it was addressed to the Speaker and acted upon by the House of Assembly.
This is a very clear and straight forward judgment that even a lay person like me would not require the services of an interpreter of the judgment. Going as far as petitioning the judge to the National Judicial Council is a clear demonstration of desperation. There were allegations that President Goodluck Jonathan prevailed on him to spearhead the impeachment of Mr. Nyako. Lending credence to Ngilari’s claims was when the former Governor Mutala Nyako who shortly after his removal from office raised an alarm that he never received any letter of resignation from his deputy. The erstwhile governor then categorically declared that Ngilari still remained the governor. “As at the time the supposed resignation was said to have been tendered in the House, Murtala Hamandayo Nyako was the Governor of Adamawa State. No such letter was written to him, none was received by him and none was approved by him. It should therefore be known that in the eyes of the Law, the Deputy Governor has not resigned.
Let’s have a quick look at what section 305 (5) says; Section 306 (5) stipulates that, “the notice of resignation of th governor and of the deputy governor of a state shall respectively be addressed to the speaker of the House of Assembly and the governor of the state.”
In the heat of the impeachment, the then deputy governor was said to have tendered his resignation letter to the speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly. The former deputy governor’s argument now is that by the time his resignation letter was being read on the floor of the House of Assembly, former Governor Nyako had not been impeached and therefore was still the governor of Adamawa state to whom he should have addressed the resignation letter.
When politicians are being accused of representing their self interest, people feel they are just being criticize but looking at the Adamawa State saga, Fintiri’s role and all that one will be left with no other alternative but to say that there is more behind his quest to become the governor of the State. Until Nigerian leaders, both in the Church and Government, imbibe the habit of seeking divine guidance to enable them properly lead the people, they will continue to rule following their greedy and selfish desires after all, leadership is not a do or die affair; every true leader must also be willing to be a follower.
Today, we live in a society where you become a leader not because you are imbued with right measure of leadership skills, understand the challenges facing our country and the concrete pathways to their solutions but because you come from a certain region of the country or profess a particular religion. With the nation literally at war, confronted by record unemployment, disturbing infrastructure decay that questions our place as the world’s sixth largest oil producing nation, comatose educational system, a hobbled industrial sector, and disenchanted youth, such behaviours reminds us of the need to make our hard-earned democracy more meaningful.
It is the reminder we need, too, to properly appreciate the necessity of uniting as one people, eschewing greed and selfishness, to protect our democracy and stave off those, who lack basic understanding of democratic tenets, and therefore beat the drums of war when faced with electoral defeat.