BIMBO ADEKANMBI — As Oyo State gradually enters the season of real politicking, it becomes absolutely necessary to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the aspirants and balance the political ledger. Here we go.
Foremost in political calculations is the cognitive assessment of candidates, especially regarding over-ambition and the inordinate quest for power. Some people venture into politics merely to grab power and become landlords in Agodi. Such individuals will stop at nothing, pursuing their ambitions by hooks or by crooks. They may even jettison their God-given positions that can benefit the citizens more to haunt power stunts. Plato, the philosopher, warned against this desperation in The Republic when he stated:
“Only those who do not seek power are qualified to hold it.”
According to him, the excessive desire for power is often the mark of a bad ruler. The ideal leader should rather be compelled into leadership, preferring a quiet and modest life over political obsession.
Another category comprises those who have amassed humongous wealth and believe money alone can purchase the conscience of the electorate as though citizens were items on a supermarket shelf. They fail to understand the deeper reality of politics-
It is not enough for a politician to be smart or possess political instinct. He must also possess “heat” Why Bimbo Adekambi Has a Card Up His Sleeve and His Likely Traducers (Part 1)
I will serialise this civic awareness piece into three parts, after which I hope to compile and circulate it widely.
As Oyo State gradually enters the season of real politicking, it becomes absolutely necessary to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the governorship candidates and balance the political ledger. Here we go.
Foremost in political calculations is the cognitive assessment of candidates, especially regarding over-ambition and the inordinate quest for power. Some people venture into politics merely to grab power and become landlords in Agodi. Such individuals will stop at nothing, pursuing their ambitions by hooks or by crooks.
Plato, the philosopher, warned against this desperation in The Republic when he stated:
“Only those who do not seek power are qualified to hold it.”
According to him, the excessive desire for power is often the mark of a bad ruler. The ideal leader should rather be compelled into leadership, preferring a quiet and modest life over political obsession. He is into politics for a purpose, not for power.
Another category comprises those who have amassed humongous wealth and believe money alone can purchase the conscience of the electorate as though citizens were items on a supermarket shelf. They fail to understand the deeper reality of politics-
It is not enough for a politician to be smart or possess political instinct. He must also possess “heat” — the heat here encapsulates invisible force made up of personal values, competence, modesty, emotional intelligence, and the ability to create an enabling environment for collective goals.(Summum Bonum)
I find it implausible that God grants power and wealth merely for oppression of the downtrodden. As Deuteronomy 8:18 reminds us, it is God who gives the ability to create wealth, not human strength alone.
There are also candidates who attempt to hoodwink the public with hypocritical humility and calculated generosity. Through constant self-promotion on radio and strategic social validation, they try to conceal their weaknesses, incompetence, and inexperience. The more reasons Philosophy says, ” altruism is a coded theory.”
Lastly are those who function merely as arrows in the hands of powerful political forces — individuals imposed on the people by godfathers who believe they can railroad the electorate into voting against their conscience. Perhaps such manipulation could only thrive in Hobbes’ state of nature where might was right.
Standing in contrast, however, is Bimbo Adekanmbi — a candidate whose political posture appears anchored on humility, service, and divine trust. By his body language, he seems to be saying:
“Neither silver nor gold nor the backing of powerful godfathers do I possess, but I carry the needed wherewithal to serve and change the narrative if entrusted with leadership.”
That is why I often describe him, Bimbo Adekanmbi, as a Torx screw hungry always for what to fix.
Watch out for Part 2.
Mr Ethics writes in from Akobo.
