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Need for loyalty in politics: Betrayal, a sin

By Dr. Sam Eno

In the hallowed corridors of power, where decisions that shape nations are made, loyalty is the sinew that holds the body politic together. Without loyalty, politics descends into the murky waters of perfidy, duplicity, and a poisonous betrayal that eats away at the very heart of governance and unity. Nigeria, the most populous Black nation on the globe, stands as a poignant exemplar of a country beleaguered by political disloyalty, where the sin of betrayal has left indelible scars upon the annals of our democratic journey.

Loyalty in politics is not a mere token of camaraderie; it is the bedrock upon which trust and honor are built. It is an inviolable contract between leaders and their followers, an implicit covenant in which each party, like an oath-bound sentinel, safeguards the interests and aspirations of the collective. In contrast, betrayal—the act of forsaking one’s allies for fleeting gain or self-interest—is an egregious sin, a cardinal offense that strikes at the soul of political integrity.

The history of Nigerian politics is replete with tales of betrayal that, like a festering wound, have paralyzed progress. In the First Republic, as the young nation was struggling to assert itself post-independence, the seeds of betrayal were sown. Alliances formed out of expediency rather than principle unraveled in the face of sectional interests. Political bedfellows turned adversaries overnight, and the ensuing chaos culminated in the military coups of 1966—a betrayal of democracy so profound that it plunged Nigeria into decades of political uncertainty.

The sin of betrayal continued unabated in subsequent decades, with erstwhile allies turning against one another in their unquenchable thirst for power. The Second Republic witnessed a similar fate, as political actors, intoxicated by ambition, betrayed their constituencies and the democratic process. Loyalty, once the pillar of political ethos, became a pawn in the chess game of Nigerian politics. The political class, eager to dance to the tune of foreign powers and vested interests, failed to uphold the sacred duty they owed the people. The result was an era marred by unfulfilled promises, economic mismanagement, and the eventual collapse of the civilian government.

Fast forward to the present day, the political landscape in Nigeria remains a battleground of shifting allegiances, where betrayal is often rewarded with more prominent political office, rather than the opprobrium it so rightly deserves. Political defection, now an art form in Nigeria, has reached alarming proportions. The ease with which politicians abandon their parties, their comrades-in-arms, and their principles, for the allure of short-term gain is a testament to the erosion of loyalty. This pervasive disloyalty has bred a culture of opportunism and mediocrity, where the sanctity of party ideology and manifestos is sacrificed on the altar of personal ambition.

Yet, beyond the individual betrayals lies the far more insidious betrayal of the Nigerian people. When politicians, entrusted with the public mandate, forsake their commitment to the common good in pursuit of selfish interests, they commit a sin far greater than mere political treachery. They betray the hopes and dreams of millions who look to them for leadership, for vision, and for progress. This is the betrayal that saps the moral authority of governance, rendering it hollow and devoid of legitimacy.

In the Nigerian political arena, the consequences of betrayal are not merely theoretical but have real, devastating effects on governance and development. Disloyalty undermines unity, sows discord, and weakens the very fabric of the state. It is the reason why Nigeria, despite its vast human and material resources, continues to grapple with underdevelopment, insecurity, and systemic corruption. How can a nation prosper when its leaders are so quick to betray their principles and their people?

Loyalty, on the other hand, is the glue that binds the nation together, even in the most trying times. It is the reason why nations with lesser resources and greater challenges have been able to transcend their difficulties and emerge stronger. In moments of crisis, loyalty ensures that leaders stand firm, united in purpose, and resolute in their commitment to the people. It is not a virtue of weakness, but of strength—strength of character, strength of vision, and strength of conviction.

If Nigeria is to reclaim its place as the giant of Africa, there must be a renaissance of loyalty in our political class. We must demand more than empty promises and half-hearted commitments. We must insist that those who seek public office demonstrate not only competence and vision but also unyielding loyalty to the people and to the principles of democracy.

To betray one’s political allies is sinful enough, but to betray the people who have entrusted their future into your hands is nothing short of sacrilege. Let the Nigerian political class understand that betrayal, no matter how artfully disguised, will ultimately be their undoing. For, in the words of the great Chinua Achebe, “a man who brings home ant-infested firewood invites the lizards for a feast.”

Let loyalty reign supreme in our politics, for only in loyalty lies the salvation of the Nigerian state. Let betrayal be banished to the ash heap of history, recognized for what it is—a grievous sin against democracy, the people, and the future we all strive to build.

In the final analysis, Nigeria stands at the crossroads of history. The path of loyalty offers a future of unity, progress, and collective greatness. The path of betrayal leads only to disintegration, strife, and failure. The choice, therefore, is clear, and it is one that must be made with the full weight of its consequences. The time has come for Nigeria’s political class to choose loyalty—to the people, to the nation, and to the principles of democracy—for in loyalty, and loyalty alone, can true greatness be achieved.
Eno, PhD

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