Endorsements Without Conscience: A Nation Tired of Empty Tenures: The Dance of Desperation in Nigerian Politics

In today’s Nigeria, the growing desperation for political endorsements ahead of another tenure is both alarming and revealing. It is the clearest sign that many incumbents failed in office and are now scrambling to rewrite their records with rented voices. A true leader does not need to beg for applause, his performance speaks long after the microphone is off. But when a tenure is spent on propaganda instead of policy, on optics instead of outcomes, what remains is an empty legacy padded with choreographed endorsements. Sadly, the current political class, driven more by ambition than conscience, has mastered the art of deception while abandoning the duty of service. “By their fruits you shall know them” (Matthew 7:16). Not by endorsements, but by the visible impact of their leadership.

Let it be said clearly: endorsements do not win the hearts of the people whose lives remain untouched by the benefits of governance. The average Nigerian is not fooled by paid praise; he knows when his roads are impassable, his children are out of school, and hospitals remain death traps. Many seeking reelection have not returned to the grassroots, they do not sit with the market women, the farmers, or the artisans. They do not engage or explain. Yet sometimes, a simple visit and honest conversation is worth more than a thousand banners. “A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor, but one who hates unjust gain will prolong his days” (Proverbs 28:16). Your ambition is personal, but the people’s needs are genuine, so let their needs come first (Philippians 2:4 “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”). Loyalty is not bought, it is earned through humility, presence, and service.

As 2027 approaches, the nation stands at the edge of political reckoning. The cat will be let out of the bag. Truths long hidden will be exposed. Many will be unmasked, not just at the national level, but across all tiers of governance. “For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open” (Luke 8:17). The people are watching and they are wiser. While many will be surprised by the outcomes, one thing is certain: only one candidate will emerge per office, and it will not be the one whose greatest legacy is a cascade of bought endorsements. Let every leader reflect: If I were the voter, would I vote for me based on my current performance? If the honest answer is no, then no endorsement however loud can silence the voice of accountability. “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked rule, the people groan” (Proverbs 29:2).

And to the desperate politician, let this message resound:
“The endorsement of the elite cannot erase the disappointment of the street.”

It is time to return to conscience. Time to return to service. Let the coming days separate the performers from the patriots and the noise makers from the nation builders.

I come in peace!

Chief Williams Obande
Owujoi K’ Idoma