The Politics of Dependency: Undermining self-reliance and progress, by Engr. Bello Gwarzo Abdullahi, FNSE Dependency in politics poses a formidable threat to the self-sufficiency and advancement of individuals and societies. When people become excessively reliant on external entities—particularly the state—for their needs, they risk forfeiting their independence, initiative, and dignity. This engenders a perilous cycle of stagnation that stifles innovation, suppresses ambition, and impedes national development. In Nigeria—and indeed across numerous developing democracies—this dependency is systematically cultivated. The incessant recycling of ineffectual politicians, coupled with a culture of unfulfilled promises, has...