The Presidency doesn’t change who you are, it reveals who you are, and the same thing is true of the Presidential Campaign. So, if a candidate is erratic and threatening, if a candidate traffics in prejudice, fears, and lies on the trail, if a candidate has no clear plans to implement their goals, if they disrespect their fellow citizens; including folks who made extraordinary sacrifices for our country- let me tell you, that is who they are. That is the kind of President they will be, trust me. A candidate is not gonna suddenly change when they get into office. Just the opposite, because the moment that individual takes that oath, they are under the hottest, harshest, light there is; And at that point, it’s too late… – Michelle Obama
Sometimes, one needs to bring to light some deceptive life realities; that leaves unanswered questions in the minds of people, and sour taste in their mouths as well. The bible is clear when it says that, the people suffer when the unrighteous is on the throne. We are all witnesses to that today, in the history of our nation.
The election bell has rang again. The good, the bad, and the ugly have all come out to contest for various leadership positions. If we are sincere to ourselves, we should know the obvious bad, and ugly; who should have no business in any leadership position. For the past seven years, Nigeria as a nation have witnessed all manner of evils, and vices; ranging from kidnappings, all manner of killings, corruption of all sorts; hunger, economic collapse etc. Two common questions people have frequently asked are , “ how did we get here” ? “ Who did this to us ?” In answering these questions, in the first place, I think we should not be asking those questions in the first place. But in case we have forgotten; let me remind us that we were the ones who choose the part that led us to this horrible state.
It is a worrisome irony, that after people have consciously voted in people who lack character, integrity, accountability, and transparency into sensitive positions of leadership, they expect them to change overnight. Hear what Mitchell Obama said about that. We cannot eat our cakes , and have it.
However, Mrs Obama’s speech is not restricted to the office of America President; it extends to all aspiring into public offices ; including our local community services.
Things will certainly get better, when the electorates decides to wear the toga of boldness, courage, conscience and truth while casting their votes, at all levels.
Ironically, whenever evil is mentioned, people think about the biblical Satan. Most times, attention is taken to professional native doctors, forgetting that we have more dangerous ones at the church and community levels. The babalawos, armed robbers, kidnappers, etc. are however, not left out in our regular list of evil hearts. However, apart from these set of misnomer human beings, there are others, who wear the hands, and neck of Esau; but for real, worse than Jacob the swindler.
Who are these evil hearts, with the hands of Esau, and voice of Jacob? where do we find them ? It will interest us to know that evil hearts are everywhere. As stated earlier, you can find them in the churches at all levels. You can also find them in their numbers in the government circles, Communities, within the kindred’s, and even amongst family members. The other day, I watched a video of an old woman kidnapped by a boy, or do I say a man, a family member she has been of help to, demanding 14 Million Naira ransom; before luck ran out of them. This is just one of the numerous examples.
Aside the professional wolves, whom the society has already declared enemies, how do we dictate the evil, chameleon hearts in our midst ?
One do not need to look far, before one can see them. Those, who are experts in creating confusion and contention anywhere they are. In the church, or community, they must be the head, if not, nothing works. They will also surround themselves with those who affirm that everything they do is right, the sycophants, the stomach infrastructure. They are good in twisting the facts, and minds, of especially, that of the gullible. They are never straight in their dealings. They are champions in misleading the gullible ones, lying is their stock in trade. They avoid taking responsibilities because they know that they are not real.
They just make up stories, and withhold right information. Evil hearts are all smoke and mirror. They fool the unsuspecting with their smooth speech and flattering words; buy the conscience of the non proactive minds with monetary, and gift baits. However, a careful look at the fruit of their lives will show no real evidence of godly growth or change. These crop of dark hearted humans, crave and demand respect, they enjoy controlling their contemporaries; their subordinates are always at their mercy. The highest authority is their own self-reference. They always erroneously believe that they are the smartest person(s) in the room. They reject objective reasoning. They are allergic to real accountability, and transparency, instead they are comfortable making up their own rules to live by. Never team workers. When they are leaving office, the mission they must accomplish is to go out of their ways to get a lower mediocre stooge because, they must remain in the corridors of power.
They use the scripture out of contest to their own advantage but ignore and reject passages that might require self-correction , and repentance. They practically live on illusions. They demand for mercy but give none themselves. They demand respect, forgiveness, and intimacy from those they have harmed with no empathy for the pain they have caused and no real intention of making amends or working hard to rebuild broken trusts. They have no conscience, nor remorse. They do not struggle against sin or evil, rather they delight in it, while parading all the while as someone of noble character.
They fail to realize that, the fastest way to fail as a leader are:
– To surround oneself with those who affirm that you do is right.
– To humiliate those who correct you.
– Be self convinced that you are the smartest person in the room.
– Applaud yourself openly.
– Devalue others publicly.
Dealings with people exhibiting such characteristics requires Spirit of courage and boldness because; evil must be named evil for what it is. This is necessary because, the longer one tries to reason or align with such defiant, the more they think they are on the right part. Such individuals should be discouraged from taking positions of leadership. Part of leadership training, cum requirement, is ability to discern between good and bad. This infers that, anyone who lacks this basic requirement is not cut out for any leadership position.
As we celebrate this season, let us remember that a life devoid of the principles of God , and embedded in evil is not worth celebrating.
I wish all Umu Aro a merry Christmas, and prosperous New year.
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