The 2023 Kogi State APC governorship election reminds me of an old folktale about Adeji and his four children, a story that was narrated to me by an elderly man during the moonlight. The man is late now, may his soul continue to rest in peace (Ameen Thumma Ameen).
The story was about the battle for succession among Adeji’s children. Their father (Adeji), a wise paramount ruler, has seen through the hearts of his children and knew how desperate each of them was to inherit his throne.
In the story, King Adeji ruled with wisdom and foresight. But as he was aging, the question of succession became mandatory. Each of his four children was strong in their own way, and each believed he had the right to the throne. None of them was not qualified to succeed him.
Adeji understood that the heart of men is revealed when they are promised to be given power, he decided to test them. One by one, he called each of his children in secret and told them, “You are my chosen heir, prepare yourself.” The first, the second, the third, and even the fourth heard the same statements. Each of them walked out thinking destiny had favored him alone.
In silence, pride grew in the first three, while the fourth, told the same, remained humble and calm. Unlike his siblings, he did not boast, nor did he treat the promise as a weapon. He simply prepared his heart.
When the day arrived for Adeji to reveal his successor, the people, chiefs, and elders gathered. The eldest stepped forward with the assurance of seniority. The second polished his words, ready to claim the crown with eloquence. The third stood with the arrogance of one who already felt kingly. But Adeji shocked them all by pointing to the least expected and declaring, “Behold, my successor!”
The people murmured, and his children froze in disbelief. Adeji then explained: “I promised each of you the throne, not to deceive but to test your hearts. Three of you embraced pride, but only one remained humble, patient, and ready. The throne is not won by entitlement but by character.” And so, the least expected was crowned king.
This Adeji and his children’s story is a replica of what happened in 2023. I was at the venue where FGYB endorsed his successor among his mentees.
Before that day, each mentee who purchased the nomination form told their respective followers the same that his boss has instructed him to prepare that will succeed him. Unknown to them, each of them was given the same instruction. Those words revealed their hidden characters. Some already began preparing cabinet lists, mapping out appointments, and dreaming of power.
An aspirant even boasted that FGYB has no option than to pick him, claiming that among his mentees, no one else is qualified, no one else has the popularity to win an election except him. Others were already banking on the strength of their zone, boasting that their zone is the deciding factor in the state, and blowing trumpets loudly as if he was already crowned.
One of them, in particular, started counting the days for when his boss would step out of office so that he could take over. In his desperation, he no longer thought of how his boss would successfully govern the state with the time remaining. His eyes were fixed only on the throne, consumed with eagerness to grab the mantle of leadership at all costs.
But on the day of reckoning, when FGYB made his choice, he endorsed the least expected among them. The hall went silent, and many of us, including myself, left the venue with our legs shaking. The drummers left the venue with their stick on their neck. One aspirant, in his anger, almost hit us with his car as he stormed out. Agbada was removed angrily as it was its fault. It was during the month of Ramadan, i almost collapsed because i thought my candidate would be endorsed.
From that day, some of the mentees began to call FGYB a betrayer, forgetting that without him, none of them would have ever dreamt of aspiring to the seat of governor in 2023. The sweet praises and titles they had been showering on him ended at the venue. This showed there was never true loyalty, it was all about winning his heart for endorsement, nothing more.
Though the one endorsed may not give FGYB everything he wants, but FGYB believed he is still better than the rest. After all, even those mentees, when given the chance to recommend local government chairmen or state assembly candidates, they did not pick at randomly, they too chose who they believed would remain loyal to them.
True leadership is not about entitlement, noise, or desperation, but about character, humility, and readiness.
– Engr Ira Habib writes from Abuja.
