When Power Blinds: Lessons from Wike’s fall from grace, by Engr. Bello Gwarzo Abdullahi, FNSE
The goose has finally come home to roost. The recent altercation between Nyesom Wike and Lt. Yerima is far more than a passing political spectacle — it is a damning reflection of how deeply Nigeria’s leadership values and political recruitment process have decayed.
Once again, ego has triumphed over ethics, and arrogance has replaced accountability — a reality clearly demonstrated in the Minister’s reckless and condescending conduct.
Wike’s habitual exhibition of hubris — emboldened by his proximity to presidential power — and his subsequent humiliation by Lt. Yerima’s calm, professional composure underscore a timeless truth: power is transient. No matter how loud or domineering one becomes, nemesis never forgets an address.
Those who wield power without restraint, respect, or conscience — as Wike has done repeatedly — inevitably collide with the consequences of their excesses.
Beyond the theatrics, however, lies a more serious indictment — the deep and lasting damage Wike has inflicted on Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
His political trajectory has been one of betrayal, vindictiveness, and the weaponisation of public office for personal gain. By turning state resources and influence into instruments of control, he eroded the very principles of internal democracy and accountability that sustain a healthy political system.
Wike’s conduct was central to the implosion of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), once Nigeria’s strongest and most structured political institution.
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What began as a quest for dominance within the party soon became a campaign of division — characterised by intolerance, manipulation, and an inflated sense of personal indispensability.
The result was predictable: a fragmented opposition, weakened institutions, and a democracy that continues to bleed from the wounds of his excesses.
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His post-governorship behaviour in Rivers State further exposes an unhealthy obsession with power. Rather than allow his successor to govern freely, Wike sought to remain the de facto authority — using federal connections and intimidation to sustain influence. His relentless attempts to destabilise elected structures and undermine the state’s constitutional order have pushed Rivers to the brink of chaos.
The eventual declaration of a state of emergency in the state did not emerge from nowhere; it is the culmination of years of personalised governance, institutional erosion, and the reckless desire to continue lording over a people he no longer governs.
This is the tragedy of unrestrained power — the slow, deliberate destruction of democratic culture for the fleeting satisfaction of control. Leadership, at its core, requires humility, morality, and emotional intelligence.
The ability to exercise restraint even at the height of influence separates true statesmen from political bullies.
Respect for institutions and people — whether subordinates or adversaries — is not weakness; it is the hallmark of legitimacy and the lifeblood of democracy.
The Wike–Yerima episode is, therefore, more than a confrontation — it is a moment of reckoning. The public’s overwhelming sympathy for Lt. Yerima, coupled with the firm and measured responses from the Inspector-General of Police and the Ministers of Defence, signals a turning point. It reflects an awakening — a national fatigue with impunity, arrogance, and the abuse of power.
The message is clear: no one, no matter how entrenched, is above the law or immune from accountability.
For Wike, the writing is already on the wall. The same political machinery he once ruled with an iron fist is crumbling. His influence, once feared and formidable, now diminishes under the weight of public disdain and institutional resistance. His brand of politics — built on intimidation, transactional loyalty, and self-glorification — has reached its natural end.
As Nigeria moves toward the 2027 elections, this episode should serve as a moral compass for the nation’s political class. The coming years will test whether Nigerians have learned to prioritise competence over charisma, and principle over personality.
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The youth, more politically aware and restless than ever, are rejecting the old politics of arrogance and deceit. They are demanding integrity, empathy, and moral strength in leadership — qualities long suppressed by the theatrics of power.
Our leaders must revisit the wisdom of Niccolò Machiavelli and Robert Greene — not as instruction manuals for manipulation, but as sober warnings about the fragility of power. Authority without restraint breeds downfall; influence without morality guarantees disgrace.
In the end, history remains merciless toward those who mistake temporary privilege for permanence. Wike’s saga stands as a powerful cautionary tale: unchecked power always consumes its wielder.
Every reign, no matter how dazzling, ends when character fails — and in the ashes of arrogance, only regret remains.
Written by Engr. Bello Gwarzo Abdullahi, FNSE.
Email: bgabdullahi@gmail.com
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