Prof Moti
As the political atmosphere intensifies towards the next general election, I was discussing the role of youths in shaping electoral outcomes and defining a future for themselves with a friend. My friend drew an interesting analogy between political godfathers and slave masters. He said some of our youths are too tied to godfathers to make a rational choice.
According to him, the political godfather occupies the position of the master, while his followers become the slaves. They depend on him for crumbs from his table, hoping that one day their loyalty will be rewarded with an appointment, a contract, or some other political favour.
The analogy may not be perfect, for no political relationship can truly be equated with the horrors and brutality of slavery. Yet, it captures an uncomfortable reality about the nature of patronage politics in many societies that have engulfed our youths. It is a reality that young people, in particular, must confront if they are to shape their own destinies.
At the heart of this analogy is what may be called the politics of perpetual waiting. It is a system that conditions young people to believe that their progress in life depends not on their talents, hard work, or enterprise, but on the goodwill of a political benefactor.
They wait for appointments, contracts, scholarships, recommendations, and opportunities that may never come. Their lives become tied to the fortunes of a single individual whose rise and survival in politics become their own source of hope.
The longer they wait, the more dependent they become. Over time, the relationship begins to resemble that between a master and his subjects, where the master controls access to opportunities while the followers compete for his attention and favour.
The political godfather thrives on loyalty. He surrounds himself with an army of supporters who sing his praises, defend him at every opportunity, and wait patiently for their turn to benefit from his influence. To these followers, the godfather becomes more than a political leader; he becomes a source of hope and, in some cases, a perceived saviour.
The irony, however, is that when opportunities arise, the first beneficiaries are often those closest to the godfather. Family members, relatives, and a select inner circle are usually the first to enjoy the rewards of power. The larger army of loyal followers is left with promises and assurances that their own opportunity is just around the corner.
Many spend years waiting.
They wait through elections, appointments, cabinet reshuffles, and political realignments, hoping something will come. They invest their energy in defending personalities instead of developing their own capacities. They become so engrossed in the politics of waitnig and expectation that they neglect the politics of self-improvement, perseverance and growth.
As the years pass, perpetual waiting often gives birth to desperation. Young people who had high hopes gradually become frustrated and bitter as they watch others, often with family ties to the political establishment, leapfrog them.
Instead of asking hard questions about the fairness of the system, many become even more attached to their political benefactors, hoping that greater loyalty will eventually attract a reward.
In this state of dependence, they become instruments of political warfare. They are deployed as praise singers who glorify every action of the godfather, whether good or bad.
They become defenders on social media, attacking critics and insulting perceived enemies of their political patrons. Rational debate gives way to blind loyalty. Principles are sacrificed for proximity to power, and public interest is subordinated to personal expectation.
The tragedy is not merely that they receive little in return. The greater tragedy is that the waiting itself becomes a way of life.
A young person who spends a decade waiting for political patronage may have lost a decade that could have been devoted to acquiring skills, building a business, pursuing education, or creating independent networks of opportunity.
While a few may eventually receive rewards, the overwhelming majority remain spectators in a game designed to benefit only a handful. The truth is that no godfather can meet the expectations of the large army of followers around him.
This is not to suggest that politics of godfatherism is inherently evil or that mentorship and political alliances are undesirable. Politics remains an important avenue for public service and leadership. Building relationships and networks is a legitimate part of any democratic system.
The danger arises when political loyalty replaces personal initiative and when dependence on a benefactor becomes a substitute for hard work, creativity, and enterprise.
Young people should participate actively in politics, but they should never surrender their future to the goodwill of a single individual. They should support causes rather than personalities, institutions rather than individuals, and principles rather than patronage.
Political connections may open doors, but they should never become the only door through which one seeks success.
History teaches us that societies progress when citizens rely on their talents and institutions rather than on the generosity of powerful individuals. The most enduring form of empowerment is not the favour that comes from a godfather but the confidence that comes from one’s own abilities and achievements.
The lesson, therefore, is simple. Respect political leaders, learn from mentors, and engage in the political process. But do not make any politician the architect of your destiny. Build your skills. Invest in your education. Create value. Develop your own network of opportunities.
For the person who lives perpetually on the promise of crumbs may spend a lifetime waiting for a feast that was never meant for him.
A generation that chooses self-reliance over political dependence will not only secure its own future but also help build a society where opportunity is determined by merit and enterprise rather than proximity to power.
Politics should be a platform for service and leadership, not a waiting room where the ambitions of the young are suspended indefinitely in the hope that a political godfather will one day remember their loyalty.
