Written By Idowu Ephraim Faleye – 08132100608
When the seat you occupy is the target of your competitors, there is nothing you can do to please those who are contending for the seat. It doesn’t matter how hard you try or how sincere your intentions are; they will always find a reason to complain. Your good deeds will be questioned, your motives will be misinterpreted, and your achievements will be viewed through the lens of suspicion. This is the bitter reality of political rivalry, where ambition clouds appreciation and success becomes a threat.
Imagine someone eyeing your job at work. No matter how much you excel, they’re not going to clap for you. Instead, your promotion becomes a source of bitterness. That’s exactly how political opponents behave when they want the seat you are occupying. They don’t see your achievements as progress but as obstacles to their ambition. The more you do, the more uncomfortable they become. The more you deliver, the harder they work to discredit you because every milestone you hit weakens their case against you.
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Take the case of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. From the moment he assumed office, he inherited a country on the brink. The economy was bleeding, insecurity had taken root in many regions, and public trust in government was at an all-time low. Rather than take a backseat and point fingers, Tinubu chose the hard road of reforms. He removed the costly fuel subsidy, unified the exchange rate, and took steps to boost local production. These are not populist moves; they are long-term solutions that require short-term sacrifices.
But how did his political opponents react? Did they support these tough decisions for the greater good? No. They saw an opportunity. Rather than acknowledge the courage it takes to make such tough calls, they amplified the pain Nigerians were feeling. They stoked public anger and used it to score cheap political points. If Tinubu had chosen to delay those reforms, the economy might have completely collapsed, but that wouldn’t matter to those who are hungry for power. What matters to them is not whether the nation survives; it is whether they can use the moment to seize the seat.
Similarly, in Ekiti State, Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji is facing the same dilemma. Oyebanji came into office with a clear vision. He invested in infrastructure, improved civil service welfare, opened up the agricultural sector for youth involvement, and maintained a calm and peaceful environment in a state known for political tension. But still, his opponents are never satisfied. Instead of appreciating the roads he is building, the support he is giving to small businesses, or the prompt payment of salaries, they are picking holes in his every move. If he rehabilitates a hospital, they say it’s not enough. If he creates jobs, they say the jobs are too few.
It is almost as if his success irritates them. And the reason is simple: as long as he keeps performing, their chances of unseating him get slimmer. They understand that performance builds popularity, and popularity strengthens incumbency. So, they deliberately ignore what he is doing right and focus only on what they can spin against him. That is the nature of political opposition when the seat is their target. They do not exist to critique constructively; they exist to discredit by all means.
Now let’s flip the coin. Imagine for a second that Tinubu or Oyebanji made a mistake. Perhaps a policy didn’t work out as planned, or a project got delayed. That’s when their opponents come alive with excitement. They jump on it and magnify the issue, not because they care about the people, but because it gives them a talking point. Your deficiency is what they like. It justifies why you should step aside and allow them to take over.
This isn’t unique to Nigeria. Across the world, when leaders occupy powerful positions, their seats attract envy and ambition. The unfortunate truth is that many people don’t want to build; they want to inherit. They don’t want to contribute to solutions; they want to reap the benefits of being in charge. So instead of supporting the incumbent to succeed, they work tirelessly to ensure he fails. That way, they can say, “We told you he couldn’t do it.”
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What makes this worse is that some members of the public, driven by hardship or misinformation, join the bandwagon. They forget that governing a nation or state is not a magic show. It requires patience, planning, and consistency. When a leader is making tough decisions that may not look glamorous at the moment, it is easy to misunderstand him if you’re not seeing the full picture. And unfortunately, opposition figures capitalize on this. They spread narratives that fit their ambition, not the truth.
Let’s take a moment to reflect on this. Should we, as citizens, be unable to tell the difference between genuine governance and propaganda? Shouldn’t we evaluate leaders based on facts, not just feelings? A president who is tackling subsidy fraud and a governor who is prioritizing people’s welfare should be encouraged, not antagonized. Constructive criticism is good, but what we often see is calculated antagonism disguised as criticism.
It is not wrong to aspire for leadership, but ambition must be guided by ethics. Politics should be about service, not sabotage. If your only strategy to win is to ensure the current leader fails, then your motive is not leadership—it is conquest. We cannot build a great nation on the back of envy and destruction. We must rise above partisan hatred and see governance as a collective responsibility.
The unfortunate part is that some critics of Tinubu were once beneficiaries of similar public trust. They had their time and were not subjected to the kind of hostility they are now dishing out. It begs the question: if you were not perfect when you were in office, why expect perfection now? Leadership is a relay race. You run your part and hand over the baton. You don’t trip the runner just because you want the spotlight again.
What Tinubu and Oyebanji are experiencing is the classic syndrome of envy in leadership. It is painful, but not surprising. They are trying to govern in a season when the political class is desperate, the public is weary, and patience is in short supply. But their resilience matters. It tells us that leadership is not about popularity; it is about purpose. It reminds us that sometimes, you have to make unpopular decisions to secure a better future.
We must all come to terms with this truth: a leader who is truly working for the people will never be liked by everyone, especially those who want his job. And that’s okay. History doesn’t remember those who shouted the loudest; it remembers those who served and delivered results. Tinubu and Oyebanji must continue their journey, knowing that detractors will always exist, but the people who truly matter—the masses—are watching.
As we reflect on our roles as citizens, commentators, and stakeholders, let us remember that politics is not war. It is not a game of who can destroy whom. It is a platform for service. When we understand this, we will start to hold our leaders accountable with dignity, not with hatred. We will begin to see that supporting good policies, no matter who introduces them, is not weakness but wisdom.
Let us rise as a people who can separate ambition from truth. Let us not be pawns in the hands of those who seek power at all costs. And to the leaders under fire today, remember: even when your seat is the target, do not be distracted. Lead with courage. Lead with conscience. Because in the end, it is not the noise of your opponents that will define you, but the testimony of your impact. And that, history never forgets.
Idowu Faleye is the founder and publisher of EphraimHill DataBlog, a platform committed to Data Journalism and Policy Analysis. With Public administration and Data Analytics background, his articles offer research-driven insights on Politics, governance and Public Service delivery
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