True life must grow from within to
without, no less than from without to within. The man affects his environment
and society as certainly as his environment and society affects him. As the
hearts of man widen out to embrace their fellows, so will their political and
economic institution must express this feeling. And then the outer world of man
will keep pace and peace with the inner life. Until each man practices goodwill
towards his fellows there can be no real democracy.
The politician must either believe
that life has a political purpose or a divine one. If he chooses the former,
then he must give his strength
to support political partisanship, if the latter, then he may pay tribute in
time and energy to the deathless spirit.
Politics, as it is, separated man
from man, brother from brother; class from class; although the consciousness of
their spiritual nature unites man. If actually we gave such energy and such
time to ascertaining our spiritual nature as we give to politics, our troubles
would melt away of their own accord with no thought to solve them.
Meanwhile, the politicians, a-horse
upon their ambition, climb the uncertain hill of empty fame and transient
reward. The social and economic diseases of our country today are more deep-seated than the masses; therefore, we need
deep-sinking remedies. The trouble can be primarily trace to man’s spiritual
decay and can only be radically cured by spiritual means – going back to God.
We have been beguiled by political quack medicines. We
thought, and we are still thinking how to find in them the marvelous cure-all
which shall restore the Nigerians to their lost glory. Politics is the modern
substitute for religion – but both have gone astray today.
Sincere but haggard-eyed reformers, selfish but
eager-eyed politicians, and the selfless few who devote themselves to public
work as a matter of service, all plough the arid sands of polities in the hope
of feeding the soul-starved humanity during this critical and unique time of
ours. In fact, many of our real troubles are likewise primarily psychological.
The superficial politician thinks they are merely statistical. Their solution
can only be found by going deep into the hearts and minds of the people, and
not alone to sterile theories.
Truly, the politician has chosen to a path strewn with
disappointment – honorable however – and the plants that grow beside his path
carry the sharper thorns of abuse – however praise – and ingratitude under
every rose of position and power. He has, as a matter of fact, undertaken an
uncertain pursuit, stupefied by the incense of popular applause which he has
inevitably inhaled.
The same people who throw bouquets at him this year may throw
brick-bats at him the next four – that’s if the military have mercy – years.
The same people who sing, “For he’s a jolly good fellow” may turn later and
hoot him with cat-calls.
Yet, though I frown at all methods of politics – except
the spiritual change method – because it brings out some of the basest passions
and worst prejudices of people, it is a necessary evil. Somebody must govern
us, somebody must make arrangements that conduce to our mutual welfare – mutual
welfare! I said I rely on the spiritual change method because as soon as you
solved one problem by a political method, another will arise in its place. This
is because the root cause of such problems which is “fantastically dishonesty”
has not been toughed. It springs up like a weed into new growth
Until a state is governed with goodwill, reason, spiritual
courage and justice, is not really governed at all. It can only achieve a set
of parchments and paper called laws, tension and confusions.
The fact is not to be gainsaid, that a single man of God-illumined
mind, selfless heart and dynamic will is better able to serve and save a whole nation.
It is the INSPIRED leader the nation (Nigeria) needs.
Deacon Monday
Akpotuvie
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