Lessons You Must Learn by Obasesam Okoi

Lessons You Must Learn

Donald Duke is perhaps the most influential leader in my state. Some were even willing to kill for him while he was in power. But how many people are fighting over him today?

No political leader in Cross River has mentored people like Governor Imoke. Yet today, nearly all those he mentored have shifted their loyalty—except for a few who truly understand the character of leadership.

How many people were ready to kill for Ayade? How many kidnapped critics? How many organized touts to physically harass critics? How many betrayed their friends because of Ayade? And how many actually care about him barely a year after leaving office?

How many still write long essays about Victor Ndoma Egba today? How many would take a bullet for him like they did years ago?

Who talks about Bassey Ewa today? I still remember the attacks and threats I received from his boys. Sadly, he left office and many of them never had jobs. One of his boys had only just secured a job in the local government, which means he had been jobless. How many youths would pick up arms for his sake today?

How many care about John Gaul Lebo today? How many would take a bullet for him? How many still flood his home—seeking favors, food, or simply to gossip?

How many people would take a bullet for Bomboy Ettah today? How many still visit him today? How many even care about him? 

Loyalties have shifted—because the food, the money have stopped flowing.

With the exception of leaders like Imoke and Duke who carry themselves with pride and class, for many, leadership was about building mansions and owning fleets of cars from stolen wealth. Their value has expired.

If leadership is only about buying cars and building houses, then it is meaningless to some of us. Our lives and values are not defined by material things which we can acquire with salaries.

Do you really think I want to live a life where my value to humanity expires after 4, 8, or 12 years—only to retreat into loneliness? No. I want to continue living even after after I've left this earth. That's what drives me to work hard everyday. That's what saturates my imagination. 

If your dream is to troll people online and earn a living, then good luck! 

That means you really have to work harder because I'd make your master to sit up and serve our people. Once he's serving the interest of the people we will have no problem.

This post will remain here for a long time.