In more ways than one, the end of power is like the end of life. In many ways, the end of power is like every other end. In all ways, the end of power is the set time for stocktaking. For an alarming majority, the end of power is the beginning of regrets, lonelinesses and realities -willy nilly.
In Nigeria, 29th May 2023 shall be for many the end of some kind of power, forever. Most big boys and big girls of the last four or eight or 12 or 16 or 20 or 24 years will wake up the morning after to cruel reality. They shall notice that the music, which seemed destined to play for eternity, had not only stopped instantly but also that the drummers and dancers complete with their props and costumes had vamoosed into thin air. An alarming majority of so-called powerful men and women suddenly come to the start of helpless powerlessness.
The end of power is an extraordinary season. Things revert to reset as if nothing ever happened. Especially in Nigeria, you -who had been the centre of attraction, everyone’s number one go-to person, the one everyone consulted on everything- find yourself used and dumped. That’s the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
When the end of one’s power season comes, the whistle goes for the people’s payback season to start. The end of power is an interesting season. The end of power proves conclusively that life is turn by turn. The end of power is time for harvest.
There’re sweeter even if cynical ways to say that. The end of power is the time to reap what you sowed. The end of power is the perfect time for your people to either take their pound of flesh or say thankyou. Stop over-spiritualising these things, you can neither pray nor fast away either the end of power or its aftermath.
If you ‘don’t gerrit, forgerrit.’ I have joined ‘badtgang’ on social media. I now preach ‘vawulence’ ‘woto woto,’ and there’s nothing anyone can do about it. After all, even my spiritual father, Dr Abel Damina -the one and only Global Ba’aba- is also on this table set up by Nigerian netizens.
We must break this table. People must do what they should, when they should. Our power-holders must hear the word and do the word while they still have time on their side. They must see every office for what it is: privilege-cum-opportunity to render service.
Most importantly, they must all remember that nothing lasts forever: not power, not the opportunity and worst, not life. Those who throughout their tenure(s) sowed substance -value, love, forgiveness, truth, peace- would enjoy a post-office life of joy, inclusion, gratitude. On the other hand, those who sowed tares -hate, falsehood, malice, incompetence, war- shall endure bitterness, isolation, mockery. That’s how these things work: your service account only reflects what you deposited which fortunately or unfortunately is what you can withdraw!
From the foregoing, one big question arises at this juncture: with 10 months to the end of power for this Nigerian set, is now too late to begin making amends? This writer had in this same space on the 4th day of April, this year, fielded that poser. The answer remains the same and therefore suffices now and in the future. This is it: ‘No matter what happened the last three or seven or 11 or 15 or whatever years, this last one is the year to look back; the year to forgive; the year to apologise; the year to make peace and above all, the year to clean up all the cobwebs and drop all the extra baggage.’
When power comes to an end, or is about to, the best thing to do is look back at the years with the eyes of goodness. This is a different kind of retrospection. It is deliberately tilted to righting the wrongs. A wise person who’s rounding off their stay in a particular office, even if ‘triple sure’ of another office in quick succession, should not and must not forget that it is important to finish on a high.
No matter how higher such new office might be, the fact that you careened -like Satan- out of the one before it shall always follow you like an invisible smelly entourage and might indeed mask or discolour your performance going forward. So, please, be careful. Concentrate; look in front, always. No matter the temptation, never mess around with even the seemingly most powerless people during your last days, weeks or months in public office.
They have nothing to lose. Rather, you have everything to lose. Too many people -most of whom laugh, wine and dine with you- cannot wait to teach you a lesson or two. The person you picked up a useless fight with, just because you thought yourself more powerful, could be the shield most of your frenemies need to deal you an enemy blow.
Be wise, dear power leaver, be wise. Stop throwing stones; people who live in glass houses ought to be smarter than that. Stop telling tales; that’s the pastime of those who are down and are too pessimistic to know they shall be up tomorrow. Beware, lest you fall, as you can’t be up -looking to go upper- but at the same time are busy running around; throwing stones at or telling stories against your perceived staunchest opponent(s).
By the way, there’s nothing you sow that you don’t reap. If not now, then later. If not in this office, certainly in the next. If talebearing gave you one office, it will take another from you.
Tale telling is evil. It speaks to the inferiority complex or the low self-esteem of a hater. It is the culture of small people. If an office-holder is evil or inferior or low or hateful or small-minded, pray: what good can come out from such a one?
One more time: before you leave power and power leaves you, look again at what I call your people books. Clean up your records. Make peace with everyone: the weak and useless today are those God shall make strong and useful tomorrow. Don’t bang that human door; close them gently as you may tomorrow again and again need the access only they can grant.
Never think no one sees through the untold hate you distribute in hiding and humbility. Your people -all of us, all of them- always wished you treated us, you treated them better -with a little more respect, love, openness. It is good that now is not too late to turn a new leaf. It is better that 10 months remaining is enough time to paint the best photo of life – that of friendship, of hope, of God.
God bless Nigeria!