An Article written by Arinze Onyeka, 2026 EPLF Cohort Fellow
Nigeria’s democratic story is, in many ways, a story of power: who possesses it, who exercises it, and, perhaps more importantly, who influences those who possess it. Behind elected offices and political institutions exists another layer of influence: the kingmakers. They may not appear on the ballot, occupy public office, or stand behind the podium, yet their influence can shape who gets the political ticket, who enters the political arena, and who remains relevant.
This raises a fundamental question for emerging political leaders: Who really governs Nigeria: the people, elected leaders, or those who influence the political process from behind the scenes?
The caveat:
“There is no greater privilege than the privilege of service.” — Sen. Liyel Imoke
Yet, as Prof. Patrick Lumumba reminds us, “The trouble with Africa is simply and squarely a problem of leadership.” Together, these words remind us that leadership is not merely a position of power, but a responsibility to serve.
Nigeria has travelled a long and difficult democratic road. From colonial rule and independence to military interventions and the return to democratic government in 1999, the nation has experienced different forms of political power. Yet the restoration of democratic government did not automatically eliminate the deeper challenges of leadership, accountability, and institutional strength.
Our founding leaders, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, and Ahmadu Bello, operated in a competitive political environment, but nation building remained central to their public engagement. Their generation reminds us that politics should be a vehicle for service, not merely a ladder to power.
The rise of political godfathers, however, complicates this ideal. A kingmaker may not occupy the throne but may influence who sits on it. He may not hold the microphone, but he may control the sound system.
This is where Sen. Liyel Imoke’s leadership argument becomes thought provoking. If leaders enter public office to be served rather than to serve, political office can become a pathway to personal gain instead of public transformation.
Martin Luther King Jr. offered a powerful reminder that “leadership must be measured by service, not status.”
For Nigeria’s emerging political leaders, this principle challenges the pursuit of influence for its own sake and calls us to place public responsibility above personal ambition.
So, are we preparing to become the next kingmakers, or are we preparing to make the people the centre of political power? Nigeria needs leaders who value competence over nepotism, institutions over individuals, accountability over impunity, and public service over personal advantage.
We cannot condemn the old political game while waiting for our own turn to play it.
The question is no longer simply, “Who governs Nigeria?”
It is:
“What kind of Nigeria will we govern, and what kind of leaders will we become?”
Perhaps the answer begins with a simple principle: political leadership must return to the people, institutions must become stronger than personalities, and public office must once again be understood as a responsibility, not a personal possession.
This is the challenge before Nigeria’s emerging political leaders.
