A Snippet: Never Give Power To A Lackey! -By Tife Owolabi

Niccolò Machiavelli, a prominent Renaissance political philosopher, expressed caution against empowering lackeys due to his keen understanding of human nature and political dynamics. Machiavelli believed that those elevated to power, particularly through the patronage of a ruler, might develop ambitions and loyalties beyond their original allegiance.

In “The Prince,” Machiavelli argued that lackeys, having risen from a subservient position, could harbour resentment or aspirations for greater authority. When granted power, these individuals might exploit it to challenge or even overthrow their benefactors. Machiavelli’s advice stemmed from a pragmatic view of politics, emphasizing the potential for betrayal and the fickle nature of human loyalties.

For Machiavelli, a ruler’s survival and success required a shrewd understanding of power dynamics, necessitating a careful selection of allies and an awareness of their ambitions. By warning against empowering lackeys, Machiavelli aimed to guide rulers in navigating the treacherous waters of political intrigue, safeguarding their own positions and stability.

Well, Niccolo Machiavelli wasn’t wrong when he said never to give power to a lackey because in the end, the lackey will be too powerful and he will use it against the king.

There is the trajectory of Nysemo Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and the former governor of Rivers State and what is before him now. He was a lackey who became powerful under the watch of Rotimi Amaechi and took over his political structure because he entrusted power to a lackey.

Gov Similayi Fubara isn’t acting differently. it is just to put in the perspective of the Hegal dialects materialism that there is always a power struggle in every society where there is a dominant and the dominated. The dominated will always want to topple the dominant in a power play but in the end, one will cancel the other.

While it might be too early to say who will evidently cancel the other in the Nysemo – Fubara tussle, because a metaphorical landmine has been set, and it’s only a question of time before it detonates fully, with the citizens shouldering the repercussions of this political conflicts.

Tife Owolabi is a Researcher at Uniport, the Department of Political Science.