By Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja
In an article entitled: “The Hypocrisy of Power and Sim Fubara and The Illusion of Political Innocence” by Kay Lord, 19th March 2025, the writer castigated Governor Fubara, “I have no sympathy for Fubara”.
In a nutshell, the summary of his postulations is that politics in Nigeria, is a game that ought to be devoid of emotions, morality and any compliance with the dictates of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.
So as not to misquote the said writer, below are his exact words:
“It’s easy to quote the constitution (of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999), shout emotionally, and wail from now till eternity, but it won’t move a needle where wisdom, tact, and strategy are lacking in consolidating power. I wrote here a few days ago that many Nigerians love to deny the obvious and feign ignorance of the political reality in Nigeria. I repeat: there is hardly any governor in Nigeria who has come into office without the validation of a godfather since 1999. Quote me!”
He is not alone in this line of reasoning, there are many Nigerians who share the same view (that politics is devoid of emotions, morality and adherence to the rules of this brand of politics supersedes any adherence to any other set of Rules including the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution)
One of those Nigerians is Senator Neda Bernards Imasuen, he is a lawyer (in Nigeria, not the USA), and currently serves as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.
Yesterday, I received a WhatsApp message from Senator Neda Bernards Imasuen.
So as not to misquote Senator Neda, below is a reproduction of :
“If you don’t want to know who dated your mum (mother) before she married your father, do not join politics-Late Lamidi Adedibu, Oyo State Politician (1927 to 2008).
“Lesson talks&Learn. from Late Baba ADEDIBU Of Ibadan. Oyo state. Politics is very sweet but sometimes very Dirty. All Ones needs is PATIENCE, PATIENCE, PATIENCE. Never Let Words get Part of U or else Emotions will come to Play.Just a Piece of Advice to all who have interest n Politics.It’s for Very Matured Mind😜🙌🏾”
There is a common thread that runs through the two foregoing writings (both Kay Lord’s article about Fubara and Adedibu’s exhortation) it can be summarised as follows:
“To survive and thrive, in this brand of politics that Senator Neda Bernards Imasuen (and many other Nigerians) subscribe to: “Do not let words get to you, or emotions to rule you, politics is crazy and adherence to the principles of the Rule of Law as spelt out in the Nigerian Constitution is not the most important thing, the most important thing is to pay your dues to the godfather that helped you win the election”!!!
The foregoing is exactly one of the rules in the 48 Laws of Power which is like the Bible or Koran of adherents of this brand of politics.
“Never outshine the master” is the first law in Robert Greene’s The 48 Laws of Power, emphasizing the importance of making those above you feel superior and avoiding actions that could make them feel insecure or threatened.”
Another, authoritative writer for adherents of this brand of politics (devoid of emotions, morality and adherence to the Rule of Law as spelt out in the Nigerian Constitution) is the Italian writer, named
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli (3 May 1469 – 21 June 1527).
“He is best known for his political treatise The Prince (Il Principe), written around 1513 but not published until 1532, five years after his death. He has often been called the father of modern political philosophy and political science.
The Prince.He claimed that his experience and reading of history showed him that politics has always involved deception, treachery, and crime.
He advised rulers to engage in evil when political necessity requires it, and argued specifically that successful reformers of states should not be blamed for killing other leaders who could block change.
Machiavelli’s Prince has been surrounded by controversy since it was published.
Some consider it to be a straightforward description of political reality.
Others view The Prince as a manual, teaching would-be tyrants how they should seize and maintain power.
Even in recent times, some scholars, such as Leo Strauss, have restated the traditional opinion that Machiavelli was a ” teacher of evil.”
There are two problems with adherents and Nigerians who seek to practice this brand of politics as espoused by both Machiavelli and the 48 Laws of Power:
- Even in Italy, the country of origin of Machiavelli, that brand of politics of politics devoid of morality is not practised or practicable. For example, one of the foremost Italian politicians named Silvio Berlusconi, who was Prime Minister of Italy for nine (9) years was once put on trial and even convicted for both patronising a prostitute and throwing sex parties and tax fraud!!! The legal system of Italy did not take the view that his patronage of prostitutes and his private sex parties were aspects of his private personal life that has nothing to do with his political career or life!!!
- Section 1 of the Nigerian Constitution states categorically that the provisions of the said Nigerian Constitution are superior to the provisions of any other written law books and other non-law books such as the book of Machiavelli and the 48 Laws of Power.
Senator Neda Bernards Imasuen’s career as a senator is a cautionary tale of the negative consequence of following this brand of politics devoid of emotions, morality and adherence to the Nigerian Constitution!!!
I knew him before his election as a senator, he was a Senior Legislative Aide to a former Senator and he during the period that I worked as a lawyer and author writing a book on the legal procedures of the Tribunal of the Senate Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Senator Neda Bernards Imasuen provided very brilliant, useful and insightful guidance to me and the said publication.
In contrast, the recent public statement of Senator Aminu Tambuwal represents the brand of politics that puts adherence to the Nigerian Constitution above other interests!!!
It represents how politics ought to be played considering that the adherence to the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution should be paramount above any other political interests!!!
Senator Aminu Tambuwal (also a lawyer) recently stated that on 20th March 2025, the Senate while conducting the voting for the Proclamation of the State of Emergency in Rivers State, that the Senate failed to comply with the two-thirds majority votes (73 out of the 109) senators as required under Section 305 of the Nigerian Constitution.
His statement has definitely put him at the risk of ostracism and retribution from the leadership of the Senate because he must have violated several Rules of the 48 Laws of Power!!!
However, it is the brand of politics that the majority of right-thinking Nigerians expect from legislators whom they elected to represent their own interests and not the interests of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a few others.
We still do not know exactly for sure how Senator Aminu Tambuwal happened to find the courage to speak up at this time!!!
It comes as an epiphany because Senator Aminu Tambuwal who was a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, National Assembly and former Governor of Sokoto State is usually a reticent person who is often accused of betrayal of his former political associates such as Femi Gbajabiamilla (during the election of Speaker in the year 2015) and Nyesom Ezenwo Wike (NEW) during the presidential primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of 2022!!!
To conclude, the brand of politics that promotes empathy and support for the interests of the Nigerian Constitution and the constituents above selfish and party interests is the brand of politics that is encouraged and it is practicable as exemplified by Senator Aminu Tambuwal.
Going down memory lane, as a young lawyer in the year 2005, I had previously never known Senator Aminu Tambuwal from anywhere. I was posted to Sokoto State as an NYSC lawyer. In appreciation of the work that I was doing in his home state, in the year 2005, as a member of the House of Representatives, National Assembly, Aminu Tambuwal provided the sum of ₦60,000 for the publication of this writer’s first book entitled: “Access to Justice in Sharia Courts”. This author was an NYSC pupil lawyer at the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (Sokoto State office). Aminu Tambuwal is from Sokoto State and provided the said funds to support the contribution to knowledge of Sokoto State!!!
