Hello,

How are you doing? Have you heard about the predictions that we might be entering the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic? Let me remind you again of the need to take personal responsibility – wash your hands, wear a mask and maintain social distancing even if you have been vaccinated.

I started reading a new book, and so this week, I will be sharing a thought from it with you. The book is titled “The End of Power: From Boardrooms to Battlefields and Churches to States, Why Being In Charge Isn’t What It Used to Be” by Moises Naim. In this book, the author made some bold claims about how acquiring and retaining power is not what it used to be. He spoke about the “decay of power” in politics, business, churches, and just about anywhere else authority is held.

I was particularly intrigued by his assertions because I believe that my emergence as Governor of Oyo State resulted from a paradigm shift in the balance of power. We now have a situation whereby traditional establishments are mindful of the use of their power because they are under closer scrutiny.

It is not news that I was not the favourite of the political elite. The power play that led to my emergence as governor will someday be the subject of a memoir. For now, I will acknowledge that the support of the people played a crucial role in my emergence. The people of Oyo State who believed that I would keep my promises made my aspirations a reality. So, I am persuaded to agree with Naim. The dynamics of power is not what it used to be.

Traditional institutions are not as powerful as they used to be. This is due to the interplay of several factors. Here in Nigeria, we can talk about how people are more enlightened through wider travel, higher education, and social media use. This has crystalised into a people more aware of their strengths. But I must say that Nigerians are yet to realise the full potentials of their powers.

As stated in this book, people generally tend to assume that politicians are more powerful than they are. But from experience, the reality is that we are mostly as powerful as the people make us. This is because, no matter the powers that the office confers, in a democracy, the politician will eventually have to return to the people to seek votes.  And their return to office or not is a function of the mandate of the people.

Yes, here in Nigeria, many believe that elections are rigged. Money plays a huge part in determining who comes into power, I agree. However, I think Nigerians are often more interested in calling out politicians than putting the right politicians in place. 

The truth is that power actually lies in the people, and the people can choose how to use [or not use] their powers. For example, there was a viral video of some youths in Ghana who rejected the rice which politicians offered them. Somewhere in Nigeria, a video also went viral, but of two young girls discussing how they sold their votes. So, we must use our powers wisely. 

I will therefore use this newsletter to say this: You have more powers than you give yourself credit for. The decision of who leads you is in your hands. It’s in your vote. As I said in my last newsletter, it begins with you pre-registering to vote, registering when the call goes out and coming out to vote. 

I will leave you with these thoughts today.