PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)
NCE (English); Dip (Computer Studies);
ND/HD (Journalism); Dip, BA (Theology) MA, PhD.
AFTERMATH OF FALSE POLITICAL MANDATE
MAIN
TEXT:
“Abimelech, son of Jerub-Baal (knowing full
well that he was not the constitutional/popular candidate for the throne) went
to his mother’s brothers in Schechem and said to them and to all his mother’s
clan, “Ask all the citizens of Schechem, which is better for you; to have all
seventy of Jerub-Baal’s sons rule over you, or just one man?” Remember, I am
your flesh and blood. When the brothers repeated all this to the citizens of
Schechem, they were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, He is our
brother”… (Judges 9:1-3ff).
INTRODUCTION:
Politics is a constitutional matter, and
cuts across every sphere of human endeavour. And constitution is the
fundamental laws and practices that govern the operation of a state or
association. In families, churches, communities, nations and other forms of
organization, there exist written or unwritten guides to the game of politics.
In other words, there are always rules and regulations or principles that put
forth how leadership is put in place, removed or replaced in every organized
society, institution or association. All such procedures points to politics.
However, when stakeholders cut corners in achieving such objective(s), false
political mandate emerges. The book of Judges Chapter 9 is a complete piece on
how Abimelech contravened the rules of politics to achieve a false political
mandate in Israel, and the aftermath of such a political maneuver in the
nation. So, observe that:
FALSE POLITICAL MANDATE IS USURPATION OF
POWER
November 4, 2008 remains a remarkable date in history,
as it stands out to narrate the victory of Barack Obama over John McCain as the
duly elected 44th, as well as the 1st black president of
the United States of American. This election of an African-American, whose
pedigree stretches to Kenya, in Africa became a source of world-wide
jubiliation simply because of the transparency that pulled down the walls of
racism, inequality and falsehood. In the real sense of the game, there was no
rigging, no brigandage, no injustice or false justice, and so, a clean mandate
of the people was achieved.
But, today, Zimbabwe, Kenya,
Nigeria and other African countries parade governments concocted out of fraud,
and yet expect God to bless their nations. Biblical evidence shows that
Abimelech waited and worked in vain for such a blessing for his fraudulent administration
in Israel. Instead of a blessing, as the writer is set to show, his government
and cronies reaped catastrophic omens that forced them out of power. By this
therefore, the writer holds that false political mandate which often lead to
instability comes to focus where:
(i)
There is a plot
against the constitution and the general interest of the people in order to
achieve political power, (Judges 9:1).
(ii)
Citizens are
given false or deceitful information in a bid to foist the wrong leader on them
(verse 2).
(iii)
Subjective
impressions (or interest) prevail over objectivity in the political landscape
of a people, (verse 3).
FALSE POLITICAL MANDATE IS OFTEN PRODUCT
OF BLOODY BRIGANDAGE
Abimelech’s campaign of calumny
gave him undue advantage of the nation’s sanctuary fund with which he hired
reckless adventurers who became his followers, (verse 4). This pictures the
present day political tugs, sponsored by moneybags or political godfathers to
outwit opponents. In their bid to ascend the seat of power, Abimelech went to
his father’s home and murdered his seventy brothers on a stone. But Jothan, the
youngest son of Jeru-baal, escaped by hiding (verse 5). This paved way for his
unpopular mandate or enthronement, (verse 6). Does this not reflect the
attitude of Mwai Kibaki of Kenya, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Idi Amin of
Uganda, Sadam Hussein of Iraq and a host of other world leaders who waste (or
wasted) the lives of fellow citizens in their quest for power? The escape of
Jothan from the Massacre that destroyed the seventy sons of Jerub-Baal and his
subsequent outburst of curses on Abimelech and the citizens of Schechem for
their unlawful possession of the throne indicate that it is a mere wasted of
time and energy to pray that God blesses any administration with such a wicked
foundation, (verses 7-21). This, in turn, serves as a piece of advice to every
political leader in Nigeria and elsewhere whose/who:
(i)
Advances false
evidence in count(s) in order to retain false political mandate, (verse 2).
(ii)
Political mandate
came by dint of political brigandage and falsehood, (verse 4);
(iii)
Lavishes state
funds as bribe to the judiciary, as a way of outwitting a popular candidate,
(verse 4-5) etc.
FALSE POLITICAL MANDATE LEADS TO
INSURRECTION AND DEATH
Knocks of divine judgment came
on Abimelech and the people of Schechem after three years of his administration,
just as Jothan had proclaimed against them (verse 6-21). Thus, the Bible
records that, after Abimelech had governed Israel three years, God sent an evil
spirit between him and the citizens of Schechem, who acted treacherously
against him. God did this in order that the crime against Jerub-Baal’s seventy
sons, that is, the shedding of their blood, might be avenged on Abimelech and
on the citizens of Schechem, who had helped him murder his brothers” (serve
22-24). With this in focus, the reader becomes positioned to see why the power
sharing deal of President Mugabe had not worked in Zimbabwe, as well as why government of unity of
President Umaru Musa yar-Adua finds it difficult to accomplish its purpose in Nigeria.
When someone usurps a political office through rigging of election or false
judicial technicalities, God becomes angry, and in response, He sends an evil
spirit (or wind) against such an administration, instead of blessing it, (verse
22-23). At times, this forces a government out of power. The administration of erstwhile
Governor Chris Ngige of Anambra State of Nigeria exemplifies this. However,
where such a government is allowed to remain in power, due to the lukewarm
attitude of the people, nothing concrete or meaningful may be achieved. The
Lucky Igbinedion administration of Edo State, Nigeria is hereby cited. This may
also be the problem agitating (or eating-up) Imo State of Nigeria. Abimelech’s
story (in Judges 9) shows why many governments are faced with insurrection, and
in some cases deaths, instead of being blessed for good governance that benefit
the people. An administration foisted on people by hook or crook can hardly
attract the grace of God to perform. Here lie the woes of many nations of the
world, including Nigeria. Based on the foregoing, the writer states that false
political mandate leads to;
(i)
Divine judgments
for the evils done during political campaigns (verse 22-24).
(ii)
Opposition,
disloyalty and all sorts of civil unrest that discredit governments, (verses 25-29).
(iii)
Distrust,
bitterness and rancor that breed insurrection and wanton destruction of lives
and property, (verses 50-50), etc.
In
conclusion, and without mining words,
let it be noted that the highest level of robbery is the stealing of the
people’s mandate, and the highest demonstration of hardness of heart is the
advancing of false evidences in the court of law in an effort to hold onto
false political mandate. Those with such tendencies are criminals of the
highest order. Nevertheless, the victory of Barack Obama over John McCain on
Tuesday, November 4, 2008 at the general elections of the United States of
America, and the verdict of the Court of Appeal on Tuesday, November 11, 2008
that forced Professor Oserheimen Osunbor out of the political mandate he stole
from the people of Edo State of Nigeria, as well as the installation of Comrade
Adams Oshiomole as the legitimate governor of the state show the triumph of
truth over falsehood. But, to keep the flag flying as Nigeria moves towards the
path of true democracy, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
and the judiciary should stand out as impartial umpires. Where they fail to do
the right things, they should know that the judgment of God will one day
catch-up with them and those they aided into false political mandate, (Judges
9:23-24). BE WARNED.
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