This picture that was taken in the late 1980s, is a whole sermon on its own. Its contains seven men who once held Nigeria in their palms. Air Force, Army, Navy, Police; all the coercive powers of the state standing on one field in Kaduna.
At that time, to see them was to see power itself. No governor, no businessman, no judge could look them in the eye.Today, as the caption said, only one — Gen. Ibrahim Babangida — is alive to tell the story. And he is 84, retired, quietly in Minna. What does it teach?
1. Power is the Most Perishable thing on Earth. In that photo, Ibrahim Alfa could command jets to bomb. Sani Abacha could sign a decree and a man would be executed. Aikhomu was the second most powerful man in Nigeria. Gambo Jimeta could order every policeman in the federation..
Today, their orders cannot command even their own heartbeat. The aiguillette on their shoulders, the gold braid, the orderlies behind them — all gone. If you chase power thinking it will make you immortal, you are chasing wind.
2. We all End up the Same Size. In that Field, they wore Different Uniforms to Show Rank.
In the grave, there is no uniform. Abacha, who ruled with absolute power, died in 1998 at 54. Domkat Bali, the gentle and highly respected Defence Minister, died in 2020. The IGP and the General are buried in the same size of grave. Life humbles everybody.
3. The Only Thing that Outlives Power is What You did with it. -We still remember them differently, even in death: - Some are remembered for creating states and institutions. - Some are remembered for June 12 and for what happened to the treasury. - Domkat Bali is still remembered in Plateau for his humility and for never being linked to looting. - Alfa is remembered by the Air Force for building it.
That is the real lesson: When power leaves you and it will what will people say about how you used it? Hausa people say: “Mulki haya ne”(Power is a loan. You must return it).
IBB is alive today watching a Nigeria that no longer fears soldiers. The era of military rulers in dark glasses is over. That too is a lesson: No condition is permanent.
The question for us, who are still alive and struggling for small power — small position in police, small contract, small political slot — is: If these men who commanded the whole country are gone and almost forgotten, what am I doing with my own little time? Vanity upon vanity.Please do what is right.
Throwback; "The Euphemeral Nature of Political Power - Be Carefure What You Do When Privileged."
