“We must repudiate the narrative that power is the sole avenue to prosperity. In a functional society, entrepreneurs, farmers, teachers, artisans, and engineers should flourish without the need to beg at the feet of politicians”.
BY BELLO GWARZO ABDULLAHI
Dependency in politics poses a formidable threat to the self-sufficiency and advancement of individuals and societies. When people become excessively reliant on external entities—particularly the state—for their needs, they risk forfeiting their independence, initiative, and dignity. This engenders a perilous cycle of stagnation that stifles innovation, suppresses ambition, and impedes national development.
In Nigeria—and indeed across numerous developing democracies—this dependency is systematically cultivated. The incessant recycling of ineffectual politicians, coupled with a culture of unfulfilled promises, has entrenched a system where personal initiative withers and sycophancy flourishes. It is a framework designed not to empower, but to entrench. One in which politicians manipulate hope, not to inspire transformation, but to secure loyalty.
Promises are proffered ad infinitum—before, during, and even long after elections. Yet, they seldom aim to deliver. Rather, they function as instruments of illusion, preserving the deceptive belief in imminent prosperity while tightening the grip of political patronage.
Instead of instituting systems that empower citizens through opportunity and sustainable livelihoods, these leaders prioritize the maintenance of a dependent populace. Their instruments? Appointments dangled like carrots, inflated contracts awarded selectively, and sponsorships distributed not based on merit, but on loyalty.
This cynical stratagem has precipitated a deeply troubling social phenomenon: an expanding class of able-bodied, intelligent individuals ensnared in cycles of political dependency. These are talented, energetic citizens—entrepreneurs, graduates, skilled workers—who spend their days shuttling from one government office to another, lobbying for favors, pursuing contracts, seeking appointments, or pleading for direct financial assistance.
At the conclusion of this exhausting pursuit, many are left disillusioned. A simple cost-benefit analysis reveals that their potential and time have been squandered. Yet the cycle persists—reinvigorated every election season by the hollow promise that their “turn” will soon arrive.
This culture of dependence is not novel. Growing up, we often heard beggars chant:
“Allah ba ku mu samu Turawan Sidi, samun ku shine na mu, Turawan Sidi.”Loosely translated: “May God bless you, so that we too may benefit from your success.”
At first glance, this might appear as a benign expression of interdependence. However, beneath it lies a corrosive worldview—that one must await another’s success in order to succeed. It reflects a mindset that undermines self-worth and dissuades initiative, even in those fully capable of standing independently.
Worse still, this mindset has been institutionalized—by the very individuals who should be dismantling it. Former officeholders, once entrusted with power and privilege, often retreat into political hibernation after leaving office. Rather than re-engaging with society through business, academia, or civic platforms, many simply await the next electoral cycle or political appointment. This is not governance—it is entitlement.
The result? Stagnation.
These career politicians, often armed with outdated rhetoric and failed policies, congest the political space and obstruct the emergence of fresh, innovative leadership. Capable young individuals are marginalized—not for lack of merit, but for lack of access to entrenched networks of loyalty and patronage.
This recycling of leadership is not merely counterproductive—it is perilous. It extinguishes ambition, punishes initiative, and conditions citizens to await rather than act. Public office becomes not a channel for public service, but a crutch for personal relevance.
Breaking the Cycle
Escaping this destructive loop necessitates bold, deliberate action. First, the political class must be held accountable—not solely at the ballot box, but through continuous civic engagement, scrutiny, and demand for performance-based leadership. Politics must be redefined as a call to service—not a refuge for the unproductive.
More importantly, the populace must be reoriented towards self-reliance. We must repudiate the narrative that power is the sole avenue to prosperity. In a functional society, entrepreneurs, farmers, teachers, artisans, and engineers should flourish without the need to beg at the feet of politicians.
Power is ephemeral. The future of our society does not rest in our proximity to it, but in the dignity we cultivate through our own efforts. We must resist the perilous illusion that our survival is tethered to any individual—regardless of their power.
Instead, we must advocate for policies and programs that empower individuals and communities to shape their own destinies. This entails investing in education, skills development, and entrepreneurship. It means fostering a national culture that values merit, initiative, and personal responsibility over dependence and patronage.
Let us strive. Let us build. Let us earn.
Only then will we select leaders not out of desperation—but from a position of strength, dignity, and principle. Only then will we redefine leadership—and, more importantly, redefine what it means to be a citizen in a thriving democracy.
…Bello Gwarzo Abdullahi, an engineer based in Gombe, can be reached via bgabdullahi@gmail.com
