Femi Fani-Kayode: The curse of power
This is a grim and depressing essay and the subject matter is
painful to digest. I take no pleasure in writing it and I would suggest
that those that are easily hurt, over-sensitive and unduly emotional
should stop here and go no further because this is not the stuff for
weak stomachs or gentle souls. Yet those that choose to go on and read
it to the end can be rest assured of one thing- that there is a purpose
for this interesting contribution and there is a morale to the tale. Now
sit back, relax, fasten your seatbelts, prepare for take-off and come
fly with me. Here it goes. When one studies the history of our country
critically and takes the time to do the appropiate research one thing
becomes very clear- that, in Nigeria, politics and the power game is a
dangerous calling and terrible business which, more often than not,
comes with a heavy price tag.
That price tag includes pain, anguish, betrayal, humiliation,
persecution, misfortune, hardship, loss, death, strange ailments and
tragedy for those who reach the top and their loved ones. It is rather
like playing Russian roulette- there is one live bullet in the six empty
chambers of the pistol and one doesn’t quite know when that bullet will
go off when the trigger is pulled. The gamble and risks taken are not
only compulsive but they are also addictive and at the same time utterly
deadly. Sadly the result is as follows- virtually every single one of
our national leaders and those that have ever ruled this country has
suffered immeasurably at some point or the other in their lives, whether
it be before, during or after they came to power. They too have shed
tears in the loneliness of their closets and have eaten portions of what
the bible describes as the ”bread of sorrows”. Yes, even the rich and
powerful cry and even they suffer loss and tragedy. This is the case for
leaders all over the world but in Nigeria it is far more pronounced and
common than anywhere else. Here the angel of death, misfortune and
sorrow seem to stalk those that find power and, like an ugly old crow
plucks out the pink feathers and precious eyes of a beautiful flamingo,
she cuts short and plucks away their lives or the lives of their loved
ones. Like a light bulb attracts a moth and leads it to a sudden end, so
power attracts those who seek it with equally tragic consequences. As
painful as it is, let us look at the facts.
Mrs.
Bianca Ojukwu, Nigerian Ambassador to Spain, and wife of former Biafran
warlord, the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, has commended
Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State for immortalizing her husband by
naming Anambra State University after him.
