“One of the reasons people hate politics is that truth is rarely a politician’s objective. Election and power are” – CaI Thomas
When is a politician a statesman? Is statesmanship earned by age, positions held or comportment? What is it that defines and differentiates a politician from a statesman?
These interrogations became necessary after listening to the ongoing altercation in the media space between two supposedly elder-statesmen, and chieftains of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bode George and Atiku Abubakar over the 2027 election.
According to the American clergyman, James Freeman Clarke “A politician thinks of the next election; a statesman thinks of the next generation. A politician looks for the success of his party; a statesman for that of the country. The statesman wishes to steer, while the politician is satisfied to drift”
By that definition, it’s not difficult to locate which side of the divide, both George and Atikubbelong. Even though the two leaders are in their late 70s they have by their mien excluded themselves from the statesmen class going by their needless acrimonious exchange in the social media space over the next election in 2027, which is three years away.
Various research findings list a statesman as a political leader who prioritises the greater good over personal or party interests; who demonstrates vision, wisdom, and foresight and who makes informed, thoughtful, and often difficult decisions. A statesman also fosters unity and inclusivity, rather than division and polarisation. He exhibits integrity, ethics, and transparency and leads with humility, empathy, and compassion. He engages in constructive debate and builds consensus and collaborations across party lines. A statesman takes a long-term view, considering future generations and always puts the needs of the people and the nation above personal ambition.
Therefore a statesman is often characterised by a strong sense of patriotism and national pride; a commitment to public service and the common good and a willingness to listen, learn, and adapt. He must possess the ability to inspire and unite people towards a shared vision. Statesmanship is therefore not limited to elected officials as individuals from various fields can exhibit statesmanlike qualities.
If George and Atiku are statesmen, the 2027 election should not be their preoccupation at this time when the ship of state is sinking. Survival of Nigeria up to 2027 is not even guaranteed by the multiplicity of challenges confronting her. The election that is three years away should not be the obsession of genuine patriots.
By 2027 George and Atiku would be in their eighties and they are still struggling for the power they started enjoying in their thirties and would not let go. Politics is the only career that has no retirement age so long as it remains lucrative. If political positions in Nigeria were for serving the people, politicians wouldn’t be clinging to it the way they do even struggling for positions with their children and grandchildren’s age shamelessly.
Even more disappointing is the fact that none of them put Nigeria first but are concerned only with their ethnic and geopolitical interests. That Nigeria as a country is about hitting a dyke is not their concern, what matters to them is getting political power even if it’s at the expense of another person or the country. It’s not their concern even if they lack the needed mental and physical capabilities for the position given their ages.
When for instance you see President Bola Ahmed Tinubu behaving like Nero who fiddled while Rome burned, enjoying himself buying luxury jets for air travel, yachts for sea relaxation and the latest Escalade vehicle for road movement while a chunk of the populace he rules are dropping into multi-dimensional poverty in droves, it’s because he did not scheme for power to serve but to acquire and enjoy. After all, it was his turn within their political circle, and he bought the position with his money, so he declared to the traditional rulers.
That can explain why transparency and accountability are seriously challenged in this regime. People do not buy power to serve, but to recoup and even make gains. It’s all about profit making not about rendering service to humanity. This explains why the struggle for power in this country is a do-or-die thing.
What came out clearly from the bantering of George and Atiku who would be 82 and 81 years respectively in 2027 is that the duo although of the same political party are stoutly defending their ethnic and geographical interests and not their party or country. Bode George who told the World that if Tinubu became President he would go into exile, and who at one time believed that his ill-fated journey to prison was masterminded by Tinubu is today indirectly championing for the same Tinubu in another party against his party. While the two PDP chieftains slug it out in public, their party’s soul is even out of their reach in the hand of a person whose loyalty is to another party.
Meanwhile, they do this feigning ignorance of the existing injustice in their party and country. Both George and Atiku know where the presidential ticket of their party should go for equity and fairness but will not say that because it is not in their interest.
None of them is concerned about the country or party interest that should be centred on justice and equity but each is concerned about his parochial self-interests.
Bode George’s definition of justice is his ethnic brother completing eight years before power returns to the North in 2031 when Atiku can contest at 85 years. And for Atiku justice and fairness are to allow him to mobilise northern sentiment dethrone a bad government and enthrone himself. The duo are busy pursuing their brand of justice while enhancing injustice, the bane of Nigerian politics.
Nigeria is a public goat and nobody cares about its welfare. As the country is sinking, performance, justice and equity are not being factored in to save her, instead, it’s all about ethnic and geopolitical aggrandisement. Both parties are motivated by self-interest, rather than a desire for fairness or truth.
The conflict within them is driven by emotions, ego, and personal gain, rather than a genuine pursuit of justice. Neither side is willing to listen, compromise, or seek a mutually beneficial solution. The fight is clearly for power struggle, with each of the geopolitical zones seeking to dominate or control the other.
What plays out vividly when political actors are not committed to fairness, justice, and performance, is that it leads to unethical behavior and corruption; discrimination and marginalization of certain groups and breeds inefficient governance and poor decision-making. This is the state of PDP where both George and ATIKU are founding fathers.
When political leaders prioritize ethnic interests over national problems, what you get which is very apparent since APC came to power in 2015 is divisive policies and rhetoric, aggravation of ethnic tensions and conflicts.
It’s no surprise therefore that APC administration for nine years is hindering progress and erosion of trust in institutions and leadership. And this makes the nation a potential for violence and instability? The direct consequences are weak institutions and a lack of required checks on power.
For us to build a more united, prosperous, and just society of our dreams this type of display of selfishness by leaders must give way to transparency and accountability. And must ensure the strengthening of institutions and the rule of law while encouraging civic engagement and public participation.
No democracy flourishes if it fails to foster a culture of ethics and integrity in politics that advocates for policies and leaders that are committed to fairness and justice.
I do not see anything patriotic in 77 and 78-year-old elders fighting over an election of three years when the country is almost in a comatose state. It’s a concerning situation when politicians are not patriotic in their actions. When they are driven by self-serving decisions that benefit personal interests over national interests. When they prioritise party, ethnic and personal gain over the country. Such divisive actions harm national unity, encourage corruption, and abuse of trust and erode the required culture of patriotism and national pride. The only path true leaders can work toward building a better future that every citizen desires is by prioritising patriotism and national interests.
As the German theologian, Albert Schweitzer noted, “Example is not the main thing in influencing others, it is the only thing.” one wonders what influence Nigeria’s older politicians want to leave behind in the self-centred way they act. And If we all also agree with Warren Benji’s assertion that “Followers who tell the truth, and leaders who listen to it, are an unbeatable combination.” Is it not nice, then, that political elders in Nigeria should listen to the truth from followers to leave the stage for fresh, young and modern ideas?
That’s my final advisory to Bode George and Atiku Abubakar. As elders, they should behave more like statesmen and think of the next generation and the country and not like politicians focusing only on elections. As founding fathers in PDP what is expected of George and Atiku now is to be patriotic enough to tell their party to embrace justice and FairPlay and for them to also learn to quit the stage. The most significant failure of leadership is the failure to foresee, and not knowing when the ovation is loudest to bow out. Inspiring and perceptive leaders must be able to read between the lines and know when their EGO has become toxic.” God help us.
ABONYI, a respected columnist and veteran of political reporting, wrote this piece originally for his back-page column in New Telegraph
