Self-Centeredness As A Nagging Challenge In Nigeria’s Politics

If there is a tripartite situation in life that people learn much from, it is unarguably the one that comprises of hard times, bad examples, and defeat. This certainly holds with how political leaders cum politicians carry themselves from one political dispensation to the other, particularly in Nigerian since 1999. Aptly put, they promote themselves and act selfishly.

At first glance, self-centered politicians are not difficult to identify as they are wont to unashamedly exhibit “do-or-die” disposition. Not only that, they are wont to display acquisitive character as if the resources God blesses Nigeria with as a nation solely belongs to them. Oddly enough, people in this category across the country are just marginal percentage of the demographic segment of Nigeria’s societies put together. This category of politicians or political leaders are not difficult to identify in public places, and they are majorly not in any way better than Nigerians in other sectors of the economy; in terms of academic and professional qualifications and leadership qualities, but only God knows how most of them find themselves at the corridors of power where their collective and individual decisions negatively influence our lives as electorates. Without any resort to amplification in this context, this has been the cross which other Nigerians, like you and me, that are not privileged to be at the corridors of power have collectively been carrying since 1999 when democratic system of government commenced.

This category of leaders deceptively appear to be people-centered leaders, mission-driven people, or, even, individuals who genuinely care for the well-being of those that elected them to the political position they usually brag with. However, as the electorates have realized over time, these political leaders tend to make decisions and take actions that boost their own welfare, career, or reputation. Many examples exist of actions that such self-centered leaders are wont to take.

For instance, they may take advantage of desirable or potentially career enhancing travel opportunities as they junket from one continent to the other; attending international events that could have been attended by a mere Special Assistant, so to say, or could have being not too important event, and thus needed to be declined. No, they must attend the event to boost their ego and garner BTAs.

They will fulfill requests from political scavengers and supporters to personally benefit or gain politically in the bid to boost what they told us is political structure, even in spite of shortchanging the electorates they are constitutionally mandated to represent in their various offices. To self-centered political leaders, everything and everyone else is secondary to their personal gains

Seldom will these individuals make political appointments that will make positive impact to their offices unless doing so is beneficial politically. In regard to Special Assistants and other appointees’ performance, self-centered leaders only care about how it may impact them; not on governance that will impact on the electorates.

At first glance, these leaders appear to have a laid-back approach. However, this remains true only until their image or reputation is in jeopardy. Then, although, perhaps, misinformed or unfamiliar with the situation at hand, they make a snap decision based, of course, on self-interest.

When these leaders perceive that a situation may negatively impact on them, they have little or no patience for the issue or persons involved. Often, their concern for themselves will make them resort to anger when under perceived scrutiny or questioning. Aptly put, they are usually paranoid whenever they find themselves in such situation.

These individuals skillfully can claim credit for others’ successes and distance themselves from negative situations. Further, in the interest of political career enhancement, self-centered political leaders shamelessly will placate higher ranking or influential persons within a political party even when they ought not.

In fact, self-centered leaders often will use their position to intimidate others and manipulate them into responding to directives or requests. They even may threaten unfounded disciplinary actions. These leaders find this necessary because their victims may not have the political influence and wealth to fight back.

How do the people deal and coexist with this category of political leaders? This is a difficult question to answer. One thing remains certain, the self-centered politician cannot and will not change. His narcissistic personality and value system has taken shape for years. Perhaps, the best advice for those under the influence of a self-centered political leaders is to remember that, ultimately, everyone should strive to work to the best of their ability for personal pride and a greater good, regardless of poor leadership.

At this juncture, permit me to say that the particulars of the presidential candidates, vice presidential candidates, senatorial and house of representatives candidates for the 2023 elections, which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) published on June 24, 2023, with the name of the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan missing from the senatorial list, inspired me to express this view as a way of speaking truth to the collective conscience of some of our political leaders and polticians that have the predilection to always engage in political bullying and electoral intimidation.

Other prominent names missing from the list included those of the Ebonyi State governor, Dave Umahi, and the former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio.

As gathered, in particular, the Yobe North senatorial ticket for the All Progressives Congress (APC) generated controversy after the winner of the party’s primary, Bashir Machina, insisted he would not step down for Lawan, who presently occupies the position.

It would be recalled that the senate president, alongside Umahi and Akpabio, had contested for the APC presidential ticket but lost to Bola Tinubu.

But reports say the Abdullahi Adamu-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) forwarded their names to INEC for recognition as the party’s candidates for their various senatorial seats; a development that sparked outrage on the social media. Ostensibly as a result of the outrage from social media buffs, Adamu warned Machina over his comments on the party’s senatorial ticket for the district.

Speaking on the development in an interview on BBC Hausa, the APC chairman said the issues affecting the party in primaries were not unusual and would be resolved.

The APC listed Lawan, Akpabio and Umahi as candidates for Yobe North, Akwa Ibom North-west, and Ebonyi South senatorial districts, respectively.

In Akwa Ibom, the APC senatorial primary election had held on May 27, 2023, with Udom Ekpoudom, a retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police, emerging as the candidate. But the APC allegedly dumped Ekpoudom and allowed a fresh primary that produced Akpabio.

Umahi also reportedly had a primary election that produced his brother, which was allegedly cancelled for a fresh one, but which INEC did not recognize.

ThisDay Newspaper claimed it saw a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the report of the INEC team sent to monitor the Yobe North APC senatorial primary election.

The CTC, signed by Omale Samuel and dated May 28, 2022, showed that Machina polled 289 votes out of 300 delegates at the exercise.

Also, another report from the Yobe State office of INEC on the conduct of the election showed that the exercise was held at the Government House in Gashua, the headquarters of Bade local government area of the state.

INEC, according to the newspaper, confirmed in the CTC that Machina won the election.

Machina has insisted that he won the primary and remained the APC candidate for the Yobe North senatorial district in the 2023 National Assembly election.

Adamu had submitted Lawan’s name as the candidate of the APC for the Yobe North senatorial election slated for February 2023 to the INEC.

Machina, however, had to take the necessary legal steps to stop INEC from publishing Lawan’s name as the APC candidate.

INEC had consistently maintained that it lacked the powers to pick a candidate in an election, even though its authentication was necessary to certify that an election was held.

To any reader of this piece that has the fear of God, a dispassionate analysis of the foregoing will show that there are politicians across the country that do not care if other people exist except them and their family members. Therefore, my take in this piece is that politicians or rather our political leaders should refrain from self-centeredness as it is obfuscating the ongoing democratic dispensation that commenced since 1999 to the extent that it is hindering the attainment of good governance across the three-tiers of government in Nigeria.

Sandra Ijeoma Okoye (Author)