By Rev Fr Gerald Nwafor
The election has come and gone, and now it’s time for governance. Some thought they would move the needle, others believed they could move mountains, while others assumed they would make a name for themselves and start a new political re-engineering. Those who succeeded, I say congratulations, and those of us who failed should accept our limitations and move on. Besides, just some days ago the minister of the Federal Republic was standing before a military young man called Yerima in the bead to intimidate him the way he has been intimidating the general public; when he discovered that the tactics of intimidation will not work in the face of military, he accepted his limitations and walked away and went to another area and organized a media conference to save his face.
Therefore, those who spent money and time and other resources in the plan to become the new face of Anambra State, upon finding that plan did not materialize, should borrow a leaf from the minister and walk away, maybe go different place and organize a media pale. I can assure you I will be there with my news crew to cover your story, in the same way we helped the minister to send his message across. We cannot always win. I remember in my heydays as a soccer player, our coach would always say that we may not win all the matches, but it is important that we give our best and hope for the best. If we lose gallantly, he will say that we cannot always win; sometimes we bow to the superior firepower of a bigger team and accept our limitations.
The people who competed with the hope of federal might should know that the federal might is everyone’s business, and they look at who would deliver their interests most. Those who have no might at all backing them should learn the hard way how the political arena works in Nigeria. The three most important things in the political stratosphere in Nigeria are money, power, and connection; the electorate comes last, but that is what it is in the country called Nigeria.
This is not about federal or state; no, it runs across the board. Because if you go to your local government to contest for chairman, councilor, or village king and you do not have those three elements, please accept your limitations and move on.There is no shame in that acceptance; it is a mark of wisdom and humility to know your strength.
I remember high school days when almost everyone said that they would be doctors, lawyers, engineers, or pilots. At least, in my locality, we had only one doctor, one engineer, one lawyer, no pilot, and life has moved on, and most of us accepted it and moved on also. We have many millionaires from that group, but not from a professional aspect, but full-time businessmen and women. The primary goal may not be achieved, but that is not the end of the world.
The call may come from another angle, and the ultimate reason why we want to become doctors and lawyers is to have enough money for survival. If the money comes from another legitimate means, one should be satisfied with that blessing. I am not sure if you offer Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook) a medical degree now if he would consider it, nor would Jeff Bezos (Amazon) accept your engineering degree.
Most of the world’s billionaires failed in what they started to do as kids or teens, but they moved on to another platform of life which presented itself. No need to cry over spilled milk; pick yourself up and move on.
When I watched some speeches from the failed gubernatorial candidates, I wondered which universe they are living in. Although I am apolitical but if you watch the heartbeat of the people of Anambra from the onset, you can predict with the certitude of a Jewish prophet where the pendulum is swinging towards, but to think otherwise is to engage in a wild goose chase. The APGA effect in Anambra state of Eastern Nigeria is not something you can sneeze at; it has come to stay. I was joking with some traders and market women some days before the election on what their plan and voting decision would be.
I was surprised that they believed that Ojukwu said that every Igbo man should vote for APGA until liberation is achieved. I told them that Ojukwu had died long ago and new faces have taken up the management of APGA (All Progressive Grand Alliance). They did not agree with me; they simply said that the spirit of Ojukwu is still very much alive in APGA. That may be true.Finally, we should be wise to know when to stop in all works of life and be sincere with oneself.
I have friends and family members who started well, politically wise, but along the line committed political suicide by jumping ship. I wish they would accept their mistakes and move on. Some were doing very well in the business environment, but that business tanked because of less demand, and the venture died; they should be wise enough to change their stock in trade. I have a friend who started life as a primary school teacher, later abandoned the classroom, and joined the business world. Today, he still thanks God for that single decision.
Do not be afraid to move on when the opportunity presents itself. I cannot fly like an eagle, but there are many other things I can learn from an eagle after accepting my limitations. If you continue to cry over your limitations, you cannot see your potential and possibilities.
The time and the tide do not wait for anyone; stop wasting time complaining and giving reasons. When the young officer presents himself and tells you that there is no way forward here, be smart, do not lose your life over it, just be smart like the minister, move back, change direction, and move on. He who fights and runs away lives to fight another day.
There are millions of opportunities in life; when one door is closed, many more are opened. Whenever there is life, there is hope. There is time to fight, and there are also times for retreating and asking the necessary questions to help you know if the fight before you is a worthy fight or just an exercise in futility. Is this the hill you want to die on?
