Nigeria stands on a crossroad in its evolution as a sustainable entity. While we have historically seen leaders who possess the technical knowledge of governance, there remains a profound void where the soul of the nation should be. It is not an overstatement to say that Nigeria has rarely, if ever, been steered by truly patriotic leaders. Instead, our political landscape is haunted by the "spirit of personalism"; a condition where individual political interests consistently outweigh the collective national good.
The Trait of Personalism
In a healthy democracy, patriotism acts as the glue that binds a people to a common purpose. Unfortunately, in Nigeria, this has been replaced by a toxic individualism. Personalism, in this context, is the "evil monster" clogging the wheels of our development. It manifests as a leadership style that views the state not as a sacred trust, but as a vehicle for self-aggrandizement and the consolidation of private power.
When personal gains are prioritized over national growth, the result is a systemic failure that traps the citizenry in a cycle of poverty and infrastructure decay. This is the position of the nation at the moment.
A Reflection on the 2026 FCT Council Elections
We need only look at our most recent electoral cycles to see this "personalist" agenda in action. The February 2026 FCT Area Council elections served as a sobering case study. While these local polls were a strategic test for the upcoming 2027 general elections, they were marred by the same old demons:
Voter Apathy: Residents stayed away in droves, a direct response to a perceived lack of transparency and a belief that their votes would not count against the machinery of personal interests.
Electoral Irregularities: Reports of manipulation and delays in result announcements, particularly in areas like Kuje highlighted a desperate grasp for power that ignores the will of the people. In a sane society, the will of the people comes first.
Systemic Dispossession: In the FCT, the indigenous communities continue to feel sidelined, as development often occurs at the expense of the very people the government is sworn to protect.
The Spiritual and Moral Cost
To rig an election is more than a political offense; it is an invitation to a "dark atmosphere" over the nation. When power is seized through deceit rather than earned through service, the leadership loses its moral authority. Our politicians are increasingly person-oriented rather than issue-oriented, leading to a "revolving-door" style of politics where loyalty is sold to the highest bidder.
The Path Forward
If Nigeria is to survive and thrive, we must exorcise the spirit of personalism. True development is impossible when the "appetitive mind-set" of the ruling class rules over reason. We need a new generation of leaders who understand that patriotism is a social contract—one where the state keeps its commitment to the people, and the people, in turn, offer their selfless service to the nation.
Until our leaders value the progress of the entire nation over the weight of their own pockets, the "clog" in our collective development will remain. It is time to reclaim the Nigerian dream from the hands of the individualists and restore it to the hearts of the patriots.
Do you think this is possible? And as a people we determine of future and that of the next generations by the choices we make today? Join the conversation and share your opinion on this crucial national reconditioning project.
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