It’s a new dawn. The nation is buzzing – so the citizens and
understandably so. Something spectacular has happened, Mohammadu Buhari
has assumed the mantle of leadership in this great country – Nigeria. That
ours survived doomsday predictions is enough to generate euphoria. I
aligned with the view that the political transition which threw in Buhari
is unique, those who understands the intricacies of power in Africa will
find no difficulty accepting this position. Jonathan Goodluck is out,
Mohammadu Buhari is in. Who would’ve predicted that a ruling party in
Nigeria would loose elections to an opposition party? This is indeed new
in our political experience and surely a new lexicon in our political
dictionary, but certainly one that is positive. Supposedly powerful
individuals in Nigeria have seen their power castles crumpled before our
very eyes, all because our people have returned to their proper position
of being bosses. That which has hitherto subjugated the people and allowed
pyramids of power to exist against their wish is now dismantled. In the
April 2015 elections, a sitting president lost his reelection bid,
governors lost senate bids, anointed candidates failed woefully, the rich
and powerful could not influence the process to have their way. Power
changed hands – thus reminds of a saying ‘you would not be the first nor
the last’ meaning every position of power and authority ultimately has a
start and an expiry date.
In all this, there has been winners and losers but one thing remains clear
to me. Power is transient. The April 2015 elections have proved this
point. Events around the world of late is a testament to the fact that
power is evanescent. There has been a gradual revolution upstaging the
status quo, with strong pyramids of power fast declining. Pursuers have
become the pursued. Those in-charge of security agents are now afraid of
this same security agents. The table has turned. Think of the Arab Spring
in 2010. European members state have seen rapid changes of government – in
most cases the people refusing to give a clear majority to established
political parties. In the United States of America, while Democrats
control the Executive arm of government, the senate and congress is
controlled by the Republicans. Even the corporate world have seen decline
in their hold to power. Recent developments such as mobility in world
population and the ease of sourcing and sharing information through the
Internet have contributed greatly in making fragile powerful empires – the
people are becoming more assertive against interest of tyrannical
leanings. Oppressive use of authority is no longer fashionable.The
transience of power should make it a cherished commodity, it should serve
as limit to tendencies for negative usage. It is a reminder that no matter
how powerful you are today, it does not last forever.
Those repositories of power in Nigeria, post May 29th 2015, must learn
something about the inherent nature of power and influence – it is short
lived. The positive exercise of power should be pursued through all
legitimate means. When the electorates give a mandate, it is expected that
this converts to common good. The different sources of power such as
referent power, legitimate power, expert, reward, coercive, and
informational powers, should be harnessed to provide excellent leadership
that seek the good of the mandate givers. Those times are fast gone, and
for good, where the political elites only seek for the authority but not
the responsibility aspects of power. The sole purpose of power should be
for positive influence – it should be used to promote the good of others.
There should be a set of principles which govern the use of power that
have been freely given to you to check the pitfalls of abuse – self
interest must be balanced against the interest of common good and valued
goals should be chased.
As rightly defined by situational management “Power is the potential you
have to get things done or to make them happen”. Your power, that is your
potential— it derives from many sources: ‘expertise, experience,
knowledge, reputation, position, perhaps sometimes your personality’. You
have been entrusted through the electoral system the privilege to use a
mix of these power sources for positive influence. Power is the tool that
enables you to change for good every aspect that depends on you. Nigeria
needs an urgent turnaround in all areas of the national life. Corruption
is endemic, basic citizenship is lacking, ineffective civil service,
institutional mediocrity, judicial ineptitude, security challenges,
over-reliance on oil, poor management of resources amongst other ills. We
definitely cannot continue this way, it should not be business as usual –
things have to change and the Nigerian electorates have sent a clear
indication of intent during the 2015 elections.
Power. How transient, how brief, how short. Let the wise learn!