Seats of Power: Aides, hyenas and why some level of dictatorship is needed in a growing democracy

Handlers could be full of mischief or just manipulators.

Most Leaders don’t have a full grasp of what is going on. While their ‘loyal’ aides feast on the ignorance of the citizens out there. Keeping a very sick leader and packaging him at the expense of the economy and security of the state is usually in the selfish interest of these close aides and allies.

 I remember how two Ministers would sneak in their letters of requests in their Agbada or Suite to prevent aides of the President from frustrating the needed approvals. They always succeeded because the President would give his approvals once the paper is pulled out from the hidden chests. Unfortunately, the President won’t even ask why it wasn’t submitted officially through the appropriate channel. This happens to those somehow closer to the President. 

I expected to hear some of such revelations from the Ministers and officials who had this experience. 

We blame the President, Governor and their likes, yet we spare the real perpetrators of this impunity and injustice, especially Civil Servants. 

I remember the case of late General Sani Abacha. They knew he couldn’t function anymore at optimum capacity, yet they lied to Nigerians, packaged him and even had special makeup artists to cover his obviously changed face. 

I remember the case of the late President Umaru Yaradua. It was so bad that even during the campaign he was absent. He was called to respond to the allegations of terminally ill during one of the campaigns. When he was secretly flown out, it was rumored that he was already dead. 

In the case of Goodluck Jonathan, it was neither sickness nor death, but a case of his government being hijacked by men and women who called the shots behind his back! 

 Fast forward to late President Buhari, we all know the story. He narrowly escaped death in the second year of his first term. Instead of resigning and transmitting power to his deputy, these hyenas and jackals packaged him again for a second term in office, all that was to sustain their “choppings” at the detriment of the nation where they could no longer comprehend nor take decisive actions. 

A case of the subsidy removal! Aides prevented Jonathan and Buhari from taking the bull by the horn. Thank Goodness for President Tinubu who didn’t wait to get a second opinion from close allies. 

The injustice done to our nation by powerful cabals cannot be put squarely on an ailing or not too courageous leader! 

Call him a Dictator because he takes action without recourse to the Business men in power, so be it! Some level of dictatorship is needed in a growing democracy particularly in a third world country like ours. 

 May God recalibrate the minds of our leaders and give them the courage to say “No” just when it is needed!

Source: Chief Obiaruko Christie Ndukwe is an Abuja based political analyst and Commentator

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