By: Okoi Obono-Obla
Any presidential aspirant who claims he would serve only four years to solve all the monumental problems grappling and confronting the country is not being sincere. Such a declaration is nothing more than gimmickry, grandstanding, or an attempt to pull the wool over our eyes. A candidate making such promises should be rejected outright by the political party that sponsors him.
It is evident that four years is a mere blink in the life of a nation, and realistically, little can be achieved in the first two years of assuming office—regardless of how fast a President starts. No matter how intelligent, industrious, resourceful, or hardworking he may be, the President must still rely on the bureaucracy. This machinery of government is notoriously slow, conservative, and procedural, often taking its time to act. On paper, the President may appear powerful, but in practice, he must depend on the bureaucracy to lubricate and run his administration.
Furthermore, the President must work with the National Assembly, which embodies a complex mix of fissiparous, centrifugal, and centripetal forces—each competing for space and influence. The judiciary stands as a check on any President who may be in a hurry and risks overstepping his bounds. There will also be detractors—those whose interests are threatened by the President’s urgency to implement what he believes is right.
Beyond the institutions, society itself is watching. Public expectations, anxieties, and perceptions cannot be ignored. Exercising power without listening to the people is a dangerous path. When a leader adopts a coast-rolling approach without due consideration, he risks hitting the rocks —and everything may collapse.
Conclusion:
Leadership requires patience, realism, and a deep understanding of institutional dynamics. Any aspirant who trivializes the complexity of governance by promising sweeping change within four years is either naïve or disingenuous. The nation deserves better—leaders who acknowledge the challenges and commit to long-term, sustainable transformation.
