BEFORE we start ‘fantasizing’ about 2027 elections, it is important to pay attention to the present, to the present security and political turmoil sweeping through our nation and ask the hard questions we often avoid.
As we reflect on our journey in nationhood, one truth becomes increasingly clear. Around the world, there are examples of nations that have achieved stability and prosperity, not through popular elections, but through systems of selection, carefully curated processes that prioritize merit, experience and integrity over political gamesmanship.
The United Kingdom, for example, combines democratic elections with a monarchy and an appointed House of Lords. While their parliament is elected, the head of state remains the monarch and a significant portion of legislative oversight lies with individuals appointed, not elected by the crown. These institutions serve as guardians of the kingdom, offering stability and continuity beyond the cycles of electoral politics.
In such countries, the selection process is not a free-for-all contest. It is a measured, intentional process that places the burden of choice in the hands of those guided by wisdom, experience and the nation’s best interest, not personal ambition. And the outcomes are telling- these nations have largely avoided the plagues of many electoral democracies.
We have spent enormous time, money and resources trying to replicate British- American models of governance, without truly understanding or adapting them.
In my own search for answers, I am drawn to the systems of governance that existed in our land before colonialism. These systems, though far from perfect, were deeply rooted in our traditions and values. These were systems based on selection, not election where leaders were chosen by the wise, the experienced and the respected not by popularity, money, or manipulation. These wise selectors, known as the kingmakers were not appointed by political parties or influenced by wealth. They emerged through a natural hierarchy built on age, integrity, experience and wisdom.
The individuals they selected were not imposed upon the people, but rather embraced as rightful representatives of their communities. They were chosen to uphold the values of the land, to protect the people and to rule with fairness and justice. Their loyalty lay not with foreign sponsors, but with the communities they served.
Perhaps it is time to revisit these systems, not as a rejection of democracy, but as an evolution of it. We must research the systems used to select the paramount leaders, the ones who were able to inspire unity, command respect and govern effectively. There is wisdom in our history that can guide us through our present darkness.
What we need is not another constitutional conference or political jamboree, but a national dialogue for the soul of this country, a space where we can explore how to blend the best of our past with the demands of our future. This new system would not abandon the people’s voice, but refine how that voice is expressed and honoured.
Leaders are deliberately selected for their capacity to lead. This is not a call to end democracy, but to redefine it in a way that is true to who we are. We need a hybrid system; one where selection and representation work hand¬in-hand, where leadership is earned through character and service, not simply through political power play.
In such a system, the people would trust their leaders more deeply, knowing that they were chosen through careful deliberation. And those doing the choosing, the modern-day kingmakers must themselves be individuals of unquestionable integrity, shielded from partisanship.
When governance is done right, people live well. They earn a fair wage, provide for their families and find dignity in their daily lives. When people thrive, they have no need to steal or fight, they find peace in justice and order.
This is the evolution we must strive for- a system of leadership that reflects who we truly are, that honours our heritage, while boldly facing our present and that builds a Nigeria where the people’s will is sacred and leadership is a calling, not a hustle.
This is the future we must build a Nigeria led not by those who can ‘game’ the system, but by those who are worthy of trust, grounded in truth and guided by the wisdom of our ancestors. It is a future that respects our history, acknowledges our present struggles and holds the promise of a brighter tomorrow.
